Page 82 - History of War - Issue 29-16

EGYPT’S STRUGGLE FOR CANAAN

Pass leading directly to Megiddo. Whereas the “EGYPTIAN ACCOUNTS TELL OF RAMESSES STANDING IN HIS CHARIOT
(to the north or south), or the narrow Musmus
time to prepare for battle, the second would AND RUSHING INTO THE ENEMY LINES, GIVING NEW SPIRIT TO THE
rst option would have given the Canaanites
precarious trail. Thutmose, however, decided to WAVERING EGYPTIANS AND TURNING THE TIDE OF THE BATTLE”
leave the Egyptian force exposed on a
take the risky, direct approach.
It turned out that the enemy had left the pass In the meantime, the Canaanite forces had Despite having sophisticated reconnaissance
unguarded – a deadly mistake. Even worse, to be redeployed quickly, which rattled their units at their disposal, the Egyptians were
the anti-Egyptian alliance had split its forces, battle formation completely. The Egyptians deceived by men claiming to be Hittite
expecting Thutmose to attack either from began their attack with a massive chariot deserters. They told Ramesses that the main
north or south. When the Pharaoh and his men assault, dismantling the disorganised Canaanite body of the Hittite army was still far away.
reached the end of the pass, the Egyptian army lines. The insurgent army collapsed and the Taking the bait, Ramesses rushed forward to
deployed in battle order. Thutmose arranged survivors escaped behind the walls of Megiddo, establish a post northwest of the city. When he
one infantry division in the north and one in the while Egyptian soldiers plundered their camp. reached Kadesh, however, the Hittites mounted
south, with chariots taking the centre. Thutmose lost his chance to destroy his enemy a chariot attack in the rear of Ramesses’ strike
completely and was forced to besiege Megiddo force, thereby cutting the Egyptian supply
Below: This carving shows the slaughter of the Hittites at for seven months. This victory guaranteed lines. Ramesses’ limited forces were sitting in
Kadesh, despite the outcome of the battle being disputed Egyptian control over the southern Levant and a trap. However, the Hittites did not take the
pushed the Egyptian frontier to the Orontes River. opportunity to crush the Egyptians, but instead
plundered their camp.
The clash at Kadesh In the heat of battle, the Hittites failed to
In the following centuries, Egypt’s rule over see the approach of the two other Egyptian
Canaan was volatile. The Egyptians lost the divisions and a force of mercenaries. These
area several times because of rebellions and troops attacked the Hittite ank and rear,
invasions, and then conquered it again. Soon, relieving the Pharaoh’s front. Ramesses took
the Hittites, originating in Anatolia, contested this chance and launched a bold counterattack.
rule of Canaan, bringing with them a more Contemporary Egyptian accounts tell of
serious military threat than the Canaanite Ramesses II standing in his chariot and rushing
coalition back in the 15th century. In around into the enemy lines, giving new spirit to the
1274 BCE, Pharaoh Ramesses II (1279-13 wavering Egyptians and turning the tide of the
BCE) confronted them in a major battle. He battle. The Hittite forces were sent eeing into
marched into Canaan with his army of 20,000 Kadesh, but the Pharaoh understood that his
men and around 2,000 chariots. forces were not strong enough for an extended
His target was the city of Kadesh on the siege of the city.
Orontes River. The target was to deal the Ultimately, the battle ended in a stalemate,
Hittites a decisive blow to push them out of with both parties negotiating a peace treaty
the region. Ramesses’ force was split into – the earliest ever documented. Ramesses
four divisions and his personal guard. may have won the battle, but he failed to win
The Hittite king, Muwatalli II, the campaign against the Hittites. This left
commanding over 18-19,000 the strategic situation in Canaan more or less Images: Alamy
men and some 3,500 chariots, unchanged with the two empires still competing
took up position near Kadesh. for overall control of the region.
Mounted on his chariot, Thutmose III
leads his men to victory against the
Canaanites and their allies at Megiddo

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