who would play a fateful role in Hittite history.
The new king was Muwatallis II, who faced
Ramses II at Kadesh in 1275 b.c.
Biggest Battle
The site of the city of Kadesh lies near Homs
in western Syria. In 1275 b.c. it was held by the
Hittites. By taking it, Ramses would neutralize
the Hittite threat to his northern sphere of in-
terest, and claim the territories once captured
by Thutmose III, and since lost.
The Egyptian sources for the battle recount
how Ramses’ army had been misled into believ-
ing the Hittites were far away. On approaching
the city, the Egyptians were surprised by the
enemy who were concealed behind the town.
Some 3,000 Hittite chariots and 40,000 foot
soldiers smashed into the smaller Egyptian
force, which was scattered by the charge. The
Egyptian record of the battle uses the imagery
of massed chariots to highlight Ramses’ heroic
solitude at this moment: “There is no one at my
side... But I find that [the god] Amun’s grace
is better far to me than ten thousand chariots.”
Ramses rallied his forces and managed to fight
the battle to a respectable draw, later claiming
victory. Despite the boastful claims of his Abu
Simbel reliefs, the Hittites continued to domi-
nate Syria. In 1258 b.c., in another sign of Hittite
regional strength, Ramses concluded a peace
treaty with them. In 1245 b.c. he married a Hit-
tite princess.
The Hittite Empire would decline in the 12th
century b.c., but the precise cause is unknown.
Some archaeologists believe the Sea Peoples, a
loose confederation of maritime powers, were
responsible. The Hittite Empire fell, although
remnants of Hittite rule continued in enclaves
such as Karkemish, known by historians as the
neo-Hittite kingdoms.
While Egyptologists had built up a complex
picture of the millennial pharaonic culture, Hat-
tusa was only excavated beginning in the early
20th century. The discoveries of Hittite texts have
helped give historians an entirely different, more
balanced perspective on the Battle of Kadesh.
LUIS ALBERTO RUIZ IS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT HISTORY
AT THE COMPLUTENSE UNIVERSITY OF MADRID, SPAIN.NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY 25LION’S ROAR
The Lion Gate
(above) was one
of the entrances to
Hattusa, the Hittite
capital city. Following
its destruction
in the early 14th
century b.c., Hattusa
was rebuilt and
fortified under King
Suppiluliumas I.
PAUL WILLIAMS/ALAMY/ACI