Campaigns in Nubia and Syria
The Sherden Sea Pirates
During year’s two to five of Ramesses II’s reign, the pharaoh launched various campaigns within Syria, Palestine, Asia and Canaan. One of the most recognized of the military operations during his early rule as pharaoh was the defeat of the ‘Sea People’ or ‘Sherden Sea Pirates’. The clan, though native to Palestine, lived on the islands of Delta, and were disrupting the peace along Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline. Ramesses, within his second year of reign launched a surprise assault on the people at strategic points along the coast, successfully subduing the pirates. Historians believe that the clan was then assimilated into the Egyptian army as the people appear throughout reliefs depicting the Battle at Kadesh and later campaigns. Therefore, as one of Ramesses earlier campaigns, the successful defeat of the Sherden Sea Pirates demonstrates Ramesses capability as Warrior and that he was an effective protector of the Egyptian empire.
Later Campaigns
Within year two of Ramesses reign Pi-Ramesses, the new capital of the Pharaoh began being constructed. Consequently, in later years Pi-Ramesses became a valuable asset to the Egyptian empire as it was closer to threatening regions and mass production of chariots and other weapons were crafted within the city for the Egyptian army which was rapidly expanding at that time. During the fourth year of Ramesses II’s reign, the treaty between Amurra and the Hittites broke as Egypt had successfully captured the city and an alliance was formed between Egypt and Amurra. As a result, the Battle of Kadesh between the Hittites and Egypt began as each major empire battled to expand their territory and gain power. It is believed by historians that the battle of Kadesh may have been prearranged by the Egyptian pharaoh and the Hittite king as both rulers were highly equipped and arrived at the general location of the battle at around the same time.
The Battle of Kadesh had a significant impact on the later years of Ramesses Military actions as a treaty was made between the two major empires. Throughout the seventh to the twentieth year of Ramesses II reign, the Hittites and Egyptians continually battled over the main regions between the empires, mainly concentrating on the cities of Amurra and Tunip. Within Ramesses ninth year he successfully marched through Amurra to Dapur accompanied by his six sons, where Ramesses assembled a statue of himself. This was significant as the Egyptian Empire had not travelled further than Kadesh since under the rule of Thutmose the III, over ten decades before Ramesses rule. Though Ramesses expanded his territory these campaigns are viewed as pointless as the regions were continually swapping alliances between the Hittite and Egyptian empire so that neither gained an advantage and only ceasing when the diplomatic alliance was formed. K.A.Kitchen describes his view of Ramesses role as warrior:
“In war, the young king showed himself all too facile and impetuous at first leading the debacle at Kadesh. And then stubbornly persistent in endeavouring, to recover Tuthmosid claims in Syria for most of twenty years…ending in a treaty that gave no desired gain and at the end meant twenty years of wasted effort.” (Pharaoh Triumphant, pp 224)
Campaigns to subdue revolts, raids, and disorder created within Egypt and the surrounding areas mainly including Nubia were continually being launched. The tribe within Nubia known as ‘Irem’ had a second rebellion within year fifteen to twenty of Ramesses II rule. The rebellion was subdued and seven hundred men of the ‘Irem’ tribe were taken captive resulting in no further rebellion occurring.
During year’s two to five of Ramesses II’s reign, the pharaoh launched various campaigns within Syria, Palestine, Asia and Canaan. One of the most recognized of the military operations during his early rule as pharaoh was the defeat of the ‘Sea People’ or ‘Sherden Sea Pirates’. The clan, though native to Palestine, lived on the islands of Delta, and were disrupting the peace along Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline. Ramesses, within his second year of reign launched a surprise assault on the people at strategic points along the coast, successfully subduing the pirates. Historians believe that the clan was then assimilated into the Egyptian army as the people appear throughout reliefs depicting the Battle at Kadesh and later campaigns. Therefore, as one of Ramesses earlier campaigns, the successful defeat of the Sherden Sea Pirates demonstrates Ramesses capability as Warrior and that he was an effective protector of the Egyptian empire.
Later Campaigns
Within year two of Ramesses reign Pi-Ramesses, the new capital of the Pharaoh began being constructed. Consequently, in later years Pi-Ramesses became a valuable asset to the Egyptian empire as it was closer to threatening regions and mass production of chariots and other weapons were crafted within the city for the Egyptian army which was rapidly expanding at that time. During the fourth year of Ramesses II’s reign, the treaty between Amurra and the Hittites broke as Egypt had successfully captured the city and an alliance was formed between Egypt and Amurra. As a result, the Battle of Kadesh between the Hittites and Egypt began as each major empire battled to expand their territory and gain power. It is believed by historians that the battle of Kadesh may have been prearranged by the Egyptian pharaoh and the Hittite king as both rulers were highly equipped and arrived at the general location of the battle at around the same time.
The Battle of Kadesh had a significant impact on the later years of Ramesses Military actions as a treaty was made between the two major empires. Throughout the seventh to the twentieth year of Ramesses II reign, the Hittites and Egyptians continually battled over the main regions between the empires, mainly concentrating on the cities of Amurra and Tunip. Within Ramesses ninth year he successfully marched through Amurra to Dapur accompanied by his six sons, where Ramesses assembled a statue of himself. This was significant as the Egyptian Empire had not travelled further than Kadesh since under the rule of Thutmose the III, over ten decades before Ramesses rule. Though Ramesses expanded his territory these campaigns are viewed as pointless as the regions were continually swapping alliances between the Hittite and Egyptian empire so that neither gained an advantage and only ceasing when the diplomatic alliance was formed. K.A.Kitchen describes his view of Ramesses role as warrior:
“In war, the young king showed himself all too facile and impetuous at first leading the debacle at Kadesh. And then stubbornly persistent in endeavouring, to recover Tuthmosid claims in Syria for most of twenty years…ending in a treaty that gave no desired gain and at the end meant twenty years of wasted effort.” (Pharaoh Triumphant, pp 224)
Campaigns to subdue revolts, raids, and disorder created within Egypt and the surrounding areas mainly including Nubia were continually being launched. The tribe within Nubia known as ‘Irem’ had a second rebellion within year fifteen to twenty of Ramesses II rule. The rebellion was subdued and seven hundred men of the ‘Irem’ tribe were taken captive resulting in no further rebellion occurring.