Page 64 - All About History - Issue 54-17

Greatest Battles

The Egyptians
Egyptians 01 arrive at Kadesh
After a month-long journey of about 03
CHARIOTS 2,000 1,500 kilometres through Egypt,
Palestine and Lebanon, the leading
(4,000 MEN) division of the Egyptian Army, Amon,
personally commanded by Ramesses
INFANTRY 16,000 II himself, emerges from the forest of
Robawi and comes upon the city of
Kadesh in Syria. Well-protected by the
Orontes River, as well as by a moat dug
by its inhabitants to connect the river
to one of its tributaries, it is surrounded
by water and will be difficult to take.
06

RAMESSES II 07
NEW KINGDOM PHARAOH
OF THE 19TH DYNASTY
Ramesses was determined to 08
restore Egyptian power in Syria
by capturing Kadesh. He was
overconfident and only too late
realised that the Hittites were closer
than he suspected.
Strengths Fearless, ambitious,
charismatic and bold.
Weakness Young, inexperienced
and impetuous. The two
03Shasu
Two Shasu nomads
present themselves 02
before the pharaoh. The
Hittites, they claim, are
nowhere nearby, but
instead are about 190
kilometres away in the
vicinity of Aleppo. The
over-confident Ramesses
believes the tribesmen.
He continues north and
makes camp to the north
of Kadesh.
CHARIOTS
KEY UNIT
Chariots, light and fast, comprised
the elite arm of the Egyptian army
and brought mobile firepower to the
ancient battlefield.
Strengths From these swift
vehicles, archers rained death upon
Egypt’s foes.
Weakness Egyptian chariots were
lighter than those of the Hittites and
would have a hard time standing up
to them in close combat.
COMPOSITE BOW

KEY WEAPON
The composite bow, made of wood,
horn and sinew, was a compact yet The route of the
powerful weapon, able to launch 07 Ramesses counterattacks
arrows over long distances. 06Ra Division With catastrophe looming, Ramesses personally leads a
Strengths A skilled archer could The marching chariots and infantry of the desperate counterattack, riding at the head of the 500 chariots of
shoot his arrows quickly and Ra Division are routed by the sudden onset the Amon Corps. Egyptian chariot archers shower arrows upon the
accurately in battle. of the enemy thundering over the plain of lance-armed Hittite chariot warriors. Though badly outnumbered,
Weakness A limited supply of Kadesh. The survivors flee to the safety the indomitable Ramesses attacks six times and begins to contain
arrows and accuracy might suffer of the Amon camp, which is soon brought the Hittite chariot attack. Muwatalli, seeing his own forces wavering,
under assault by the surging Hittites itself.
sends a second wave of 1,000 chariots to their aid.
while shooting from a moving chariot.
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