battle of KADESHboth the Egyptians and Hittites escaped
disaster narrowly. An alliance was the result of the con-
flict, which divided lands between them. The great mili-
tary leader of Egypt in this period was RAMESSES II
(1290–1224 B.C.E.). His son, MERENPTAH, had to fight the
SEA PEOPLESand the Libyans, and conducted his cam-
paigns with cunning and fervor. The last great warrior
pharaoh of this era was RAMESSES III(1194–1163 B.C.E.),
who maintained Egypt’s military prowess, which gave
way eventually to dynastic weakness and the avarice of
the priests of AMUN, which brought an end to the New
Kingdom.
THE THIRD
INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
The military activities of Egypt after the fall of the New
Kingdom and the rise of the Twenty-first Dynasty(1070–945 B.C.E.) were confined to the efforts of the
crown and the high priests of Amun, working together, to
put down the rebellions taking place in Upper Egypt.
These Amunite priests resided at el HIBA, a fortified site.
The rise of the Twenty-second Dynasty (945–712 B.C.E.),
founded by SHOSHENQ I, a Libyan, started new military
expansion, especially in Canaan and Palestine. The
Twenty-third Dynasty (c. 828–712 B.C.E.) was a period of
small city-states, with no national military agenda. The
Twenty-fourth Dynasty (745–712 B.C.E.) at Sais was
equally inactive, eventually attacked by the Twenty-fifth
Dynasty (770–712 B.C.E.) of Nubia, modern Sudan.
PIANKHI(1) (r. 750–712 B.C.E.), the son of KASHTA, the
dynastic founder, ruled in Thebes and Nubia and north-
ward, gaining control of Egypt by 712 B.C.E.
THE LATE PERIOD
In the Twenty-fifth Dynasty (712–657 B.C.E.), the Assyri-
ans invaded Egypt, destroying the reign of TAHARQA
(690–664 B.C.E.). The Twenty-sixth Dynasty (664–525
B.C.E.) fostered Hellenic alliances and conducted revolts
within the ranks of vassal states.
Egypt also conducted campaigns in Palestine, Nubia,
and Syria. APRIES(r. 589–570 B.C.E.) involved Egypt in a
Libyan war as well, and he lost his throne and his life as a
result. His royal line was destroyed by the Persian inva-
sion led by CAMBYSES(r. 525–522 B.C.E.) and the found-
ing of the Twenty-seventh Dynasty (525–404 B.C.E.).
AMYRTAIOS(r. 404–393 B.C.E.) led a revolt and insti-
tuted the Twenty-eighth Dynasty, but the line ended at
his death. The Twenty-ninth Dynasty (393–380 B.C.E.)
found itself involved in affairs of the entire region, and
Greek mercenaries fought Egypt. Usurpation was another
source of conflict in this period, and HAKORISfought bat-
tles on the side of the Greeks in their battles against the
Persians. NECTANEBO I, who founded the Thirtieth
Dynasty (380–343 B.C.E.), put the successors of Hakoris
aside.
The Second Persian Period (343–332 B.C.E.) brought
the Thirty-first Dynasty to Egypt, but the Persians ruled
through satraps, who had to put down rebellions. The
Persians ended with DARIUS III CODOMAN, who was
defeated by ALEXANDER III THE GREAT(332–323 B.C.E.).
GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD
At the death of Alexander the Great, PTOLEMY I SOTER(r.
304–284 B.C.E.) declared himself the ruler of Egypt and
engaged the Nile Valley’s armies in a series of campaigns.
His successors fought among themselves and involved
Egypt in Hellenic military campaigns. The Seleucids also
attacked Egypt until the powerful Romans began to adopt
a protective stance concerning the Ptolemaic reigns.
Defeating CLEOPATRA VII in 30 B.C.E., AUGUSTUS(Octa-
vian) made Egypt a part of the Roman Empire.Suggested Readings:Carman, John, and Anthony Hard-
ing, eds. Ancient Warfare: Archaeological Perspectives.military 247Tuthmosis III, one of the greatest warrior kings of Egypt
expanded the empire founded by his grandfather, Tuthmosis I,
until it stretched from modern Sudan to the Euphrates
River.(Hulton Archive.)