Manipulating history: how Ramses the Great lied about the cataclysmic Battle of Kadesh

The Hittite empire was a major power in the Near East in the 13th century BCE, with its capital at Hattusa in modern-day Turkey.

The empire had expanded rapidly under King Suppiluliuma I, who had conquered much of northern Syria and established treaties with Egypt's pharaohs.

However, by the time of Ramses II's reign, the Hittites were facing challenges from other regional powers, such as the Assyrians and the Mitanni.

Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, was one of the most famous pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

He came to the throne in his early twenties and embarked on a series of ambitious building projects, including the construction of the temple complex at Abu Simbel.

Ramses was also a formidable military commander, and he launched several campaigns against the neighboring kingdoms of Nubia and Libya.

In 1274 BCE, Ramses II led a large army of Egyptian soldiers to the region of Kadesh, which was at the time under Hittite control.

The pharaoh's stated goal was to retake the city and its surrounding territory, which would have given Egypt control over an important trade route.

The Hittite king, Muwatalli II, was prepared for the Egyptian invasion and had assembled a large army of his own, numbering in the tens of thousands.

The two sides met in battle near Kadesh, with Ramses II at the head of his army.

The battle was fierce and chaotic, with both sides sustaining heavy losses. At one point, Ramses II was separated from his troops and found himself surrounded by Hittite soldiers.

We are told that he fought his way out of the encirclement, but his army was left in disarray.

Despite the setbacks, the Egyptians managed to regroup and launch a counterattack. They were aided by a group of reinforcements from the city of Aleppo, who arrived just in time to turn the tide of the battle.

In the end, the Hittites were forced to retreat, and the Egyptians claimed victory.

But, is this what really happened?

Our knowledge about the Battle of Kadesh comes from a variety of sources, including inscriptions, reliefs, and texts from the ancient Near East.

The most important source of information about the battle is a series of inscriptions and reliefs that were commissioned by Ramses II himself.

These inscriptions and reliefs can be found at various locations throughout Egypt, including the temples of Abu Simbel, Luxor, and Karnak.

They provide a detailed account of Ramses II's campaign against the Hittites, including his march to Kadesh, the battle itself, and the aftermath of the conflict.

While Ramses II's accounts of the Battle of Kadesh are undoubtedly valuable as primary sources, they must be viewed with some caution when assessing their accuracy and reliability.

Ramses II commissioned a series of inscriptions and reliefs that emphasized his own role in the battle and portrayed him as a heroic and victorious leader.

As such, these accounts may have been subject to some degree of exaggeration or embellishment, and may not provide a completely objective view of the conflict.

Furthermore, Ramses II's accounts of the battle are notable for their lack of detail about the Hittite forces and their actions.

This has led some historians to suggest that Ramses II may have been somewhat ignorant of the Hittite tactics and strategy, and that his accounts of the battle may therefore be incomplete or inaccurate.

So, in order to gain a more complete and accurate understanding of the battle, it is important to consider multiple sources and perspectives, including those of the Hittites and other ancient Near Eastern powers.

In addition to the Egyptian sources, there are also several Hittite texts that provide a different perspective on the battle.

These texts include the annals of the Hittite king Muwatalli II, as well as letters exchanged between Muwatalli II and other Hittite officials.

These texts offer a different view of the battle and its outcome, and provide important insights into the Hittite perspective on the conflict.

According to the Hittite accounts, Muwatalli II was warned of the Egyptian advance by a spy, and was able to marshal his forces and prepare for battle.

The Hittite army, which was led by Muwatalli II's brother, Hattusili III, engaged the Egyptian forces in a pitched battle near Kadesh.

The Hittites were able to use their superior chariots and archers to initially repel the Egyptian forces, and were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Egyptian army.

However, the battle soon turned into a stalemate, with both sides sustaining heavy losses and neither being able to achieve a decisive victory.

In the end, both the Egyptians and the Hittites claimed victory in the conflict, and both sides were ultimately able to negotiate a peace treaty that preserved their respective territories and spheres of influence.

The question of who really won the Battle of Kadesh between Ramses II and the Hittites is still debated among historians and scholars.

Traditionally, the Egyptians claimed victory, with accounts of the battle emphasizing the bravery and skill of Ramses II and his troops.

However, recent scholarship has suggested that the battle was more of a draw, with both sides sustaining heavy losses and neither being able to achieve a decisive victory.

Some historians argue that the Hittites were able to maintain control of the city of Kadesh and much of the surrounding territory, while others point to the fact that Ramses II was able to claim victory and negotiate a peace treaty with the Hittites as evidence of an Egyptian triumph.

The Battle of Kadesh was a pivotal moment in the history of the Near East. While the Egyptians claimed victory, the Hittites were able to maintain control over the city of Kadesh and much of the surrounding territory.

The battle also demonstrated the limits of Ramses II's power and the growing strength of other regional powers.

In the aftermath of the battle, both sides agreed to a treaty that established a new balance of power in the region.

The treaty, known as the Treaty of Kadesh, was one of the earliest examples of international diplomacy in recorded history.

It was signed between Ramses II and the Hittite king, and included provisions for the exchange of prisoners and the establishment of peaceful relations between the two kingdoms.

Ultimately, the answer to this question may never be fully resolved, but the Battle of Kadesh remains one of the most significant military conflicts in ancient history, regardless of the ultimate outcome.

The battle remains a symbol of the conflict and competition that characterized the ancient Near East.

It demonstrated the power of two of the region's major empires, and the limits of their ambitions.

While the battle did not decisively settle the question of who would dominate the region, it set the stage for centuries of conflict and diplomacy between the great powers of the Near East.