Page 65 - All About History - Issue 54-17

Battle of Kadesh

Crossing the
09 02 Orontes Hittites and
Ramesses has the Amon division cross the Allied
the Orontes at Shabtuna. The other three
divisions, Ra, Ptah and Set, are strung out Coalition
far behind, still making their way through
the forest. Ramesses expects to reunite
soon with the Ne’arin, an elite unit of the CHARIOTS 3,500
Egyptian Army that he had earlier sent
along a different route up the coast with (10,500 MEN)
INFANTRY 37,000
orders to meet him at Kadesh.

04

05
04 The Hittites wait MUWATALLI II
Muwatalli, at the head of an enormous
army of 37,000 infantry and 3,500 chariots, is in KING OF HATTI
fact waiting for Ramesses on the other side of the Muwatalli, son of Mursilis II, was
Orontes behind Kadesh, hidden from Egyptian eyes a strong king with a tight grip on
by the high mound upon which the city sits. The his kingdom. To better oversee
king is made aware of Ramesses’ approach, probably operations along the Syrian frontier,
by the same Shasu nomads who had earlier misled he moved his capital to Tarhuntassa
the pharaoh. Muwatalli then sends out scouts to to be closer to the fighting.
locate the precise position of the Egyptians — two of
them are captured by Ramesses’ men. Strengths A capable commander
and very brave.
Weakness Underestimated
Ramesses II.

Muwatalli
05pounces
From the captured scouts,
Ramesses learns of the Hittites’
true whereabouts. Realising how
01 much danger his army is in, he
hastily convenes a council of
his senior officers. An urgent CHARIOTS
summons is also sent to the
lagging Ptah and Set divisions KEY UNIT
ten kilometres to the south, Each vehicle carried three men: a
where they are busy fording driver, an elite spear-armed warrior
the Orontes, to hurry to the aid and a shieldbearer. Most often, the
of their pharaoh. Meanwhile,
Muwatalli launches a massive chariots were used to run down
flanking assault, crossing the enemy troops in a shock attack.
Orontes just south of Kadesh with Strengths Bearing three crew
2,500 chariots. instead of just two, Hittite chariots
were heavier and more robust than
Egyptian vehicles.
Weakness They had limited
firepower and were slower than
their Egyptian counterparts.
THRUSTING SPEAR
KEY WEAPON
The two-metre-long thrusting spear
was a powerful weapon, especially
when used during a charge. At
Kadesh, however, Hittite chariotry
08 The Hittites are repulsed 09 Counting the cost was likely at a steep disadvantage
Losses are extremely heavy for both sides. Though
The Hittite reinforcements strike at the Amon
when confronted by Egyptian
camp, hoping to cause the Egyptians to break off their Ramesses has won a tactical victory, strategically the battle is chariot archery.
combat with the first group of chariots. But before they really a draw, and the pharaoh knows that he will never succeed Strengths Long reach and better
reach it, they are met by the newly arrived Ne’arin, who in capturing Kadesh. Ramesses commemorates the battle and in close combat than bow-armed
bring the second group of Hittite chariots to a grinding halt. his own heroism with memorials all over his kingdom, making it Egyptian chariot warriors.
In a ferocious melee most of the Hittites are killed, with one of the best recorded engagements of ancient times. 16 years Weakness Badly out-ranged by an
only a handful of survivors escaping back over the river. later, Egypt and the Hittite Empire will make a lasting peace. © Getty Images, Nicholas Forder
enemy using a bow.
65