Battle of Kadesh

Battle of Kadesh
Part of Second Syrian campaign of Ramesses II
Ramesses atop chariot, at the battle of Kadesh. (Relief inside his Abu Simbel temple.)
Date Late May 1274 BC Location On the Orontes River near Kadesh Result Egyptian tactical victory, strategically indecisive. Negotiated peace treaty
Belligerents
New Kingdom of Egypt	Hittite Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ramesses II Grand Vizier Paser Prince Amunherkhepeshef Prince Ramesses Prince Khaemweset Prince Pareherwenemef	Muwatalli II Hattusili III Mittanamuwash of Pitassa Masturish of Seha River Land Piyama-Inarash of Wilusa Sahurunuwash of Carchemish Sattuara of Mittani Niqmepa of Ugarit Talmi-Sarruma of Aleppo Niqmaddu of Kadesh
Strength
20,000 men (half engaged) 16,000 infantry 2,000 chariots 4,000 men	Somewhere between 23,000–50,000 men Somewhere between 15,000–40,000 infantry (not engaged) Somewhere between 2,500–3,700 chariots Somewhere between 9,000–11,100 men
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

Coordinates: 34°34′N 36°31′E / 34.57°N 36.51°E / 34.57; 36.51

Ramesses II

Muwatalli II

20,000 men
(half engaged)

Somewhere between 23,000–50,000 men

The Battle of Kadesh or Battle of Qadesh took place between the forces of the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II at the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River, just upstream of Lake Homs near the modern Syrian-Lebanese border.

The battle is generally dated to 1274 BC in the conventional Egyptian chronology, and is the earliest battle in recorded history for which details of tactics and formations are known. It is believed to have been the largest chariot battle ever fought, involving between 5,000 and 6,000 chariots in total.

As a result of the multiple Kadesh inscriptions, it is the best documented battle in all of ancient history.

After expelling the Hyksos 15th dynasty around 1550 BC, the native Egyptian New Kingdom rulers became more aggressive in reclaiming control of their state's borders. Thutmose I, Thutmose III and his son and coregent Amenhotep II fought battles from Megiddo north to the Orontes River, including conflict with Kadesh.

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