Battle of Kadesh- Greatest Chariot battle

Battle of Kadesh( May 1274 B.C. ) was fought on the banks of the River Orontes in Syria between the young ruler of Egypt King Rameses II and King Muwatalli king of the Hittites.  The battle of Kadesh is one of the greatest Chariot battles ever fought in History and it will be the first and last battle in that a lot of chariot was fielded one day in a battle. the battle of Kadesh will catapult King Ramesses into one of the greatest Egyptian Kings in history but unknown to the Young Egyptian king he was walking into a trap that day.

Background 

The Buildup and the Main factor resulting in the Battle of Kadesh lies in the Domination and supremacy for power to control the Eastern Mediterranean, lying between Egypt and cities lies a strategic and important road which is known for its economic purpose, and this become desired and hotly contested territory for both Egypt and Hittites who claim that the Region belongs to each one of them and that it falls under their country Boundary. A minor kingdom in the Area that control Kadesh saw this as an opportunity and played the Hittites and the Egyptian against each other feeling them intel that we make them clash against each other, so these confrontations lead to a large-scale war that make both kings declare war against each other 

Military Leaders

Ramesses II was 29 years when he ascended the throne of Egypt during the New Kingdom period when Egypt was on the brink of being l pocontrollemmmost most of the countries and land their borders and they sought to establish their Dominion as aas s far as Upper Nile into Africa and East and north along the Mediterranean Coast.

Seti I the father of Ramesses II pursued the idea of aggressive expansionist policy leading Several war campaigns, he defeated a large coalition of Army under princes of Cannaintes to conquer Palestine, even pushing into Lebanon, but before he could Conquer Kadesh it was already out of its hand. Ramessess too eager to make history for himself and establish his reputation as a great military leader showing the sign of a charismatic leader and a brilliant strategist. 

Upon obtaining the throne, Ramesses begin to restructure the army, he gathered forces, build up Bases and even establish a forward sessheethat will serve as logistical for any major Campaign, he was ready to Engage in war.

Muwatalli the Hitties king and Ramessess Opponent was not meant to be king until his brother who was the king died and the throne was passed to Muwatalli. War was fought between Muwatalli’s father and Seti I over the control of Kadesh, this battle between Egypt and Hittites has something of generational war background

Military Strength

The Egyptian Army comprises four divisions of infantry, each division having 5,000 men and several thousand chariotsAccording to history, each division has about 500 Chariots which accompanied them, they are to serve as elite strike Forces. 

The three components necessary for an effective war chariot are the spoked wheel, horses and a powerful bow. These technologies seem to have come together in the 2nd Millenium B.C and spread via Nomadic Indo-European through Eurasia. By the time of Ramesses II Egyptian War, chariots were a true war machine that was feared.

In addition to being the superior status of the Egyptian army, the characters were also the most trained soldier in the Military. When he accompanied the Army, the pharaoh naturally assumed the role of a lead Charioteer.Although there was a permanent professional army that is core to the army, in times of war, the majority of the ranks especially the infantry were filled with temporary soldiers often recruited from the peasant,  artisan but it is particularly farmers since most Egyptian engaged in farming. They were armed with simple spears, bows or a bronze axe or sword, body armour was not fully worn, the body armour simply consisted of a skull cap or jerking made of stiffened Fabric or leather.

Muwatalli, on the other hand, had assembled a gigantic large army of 30,000 to 40,000 with thousands of chariots accompanying it, though they have been speculation that the chariots are estimated to be 3500 is unsure if the number is correct then this one clash other three Chariot army in history

Though the Hittite also have a chariot their chariot differ from the Egyptian chariot, it has much header design with a larger and solid rectangular wooden cab, the axe was centred beneath the cab rather than to the rear, and it carry three crewmen, the drivercontrcontrolsl the horse, a warrior with a large Shield and  Spear and another warrior wielding a long thrusting spear or bow. During the battle the Hittites will charge a single mass charge followed by a chariot, they intended to break the enemy fans, disabilities them, and then run them over with arrows or thrusting a spear.

The battle 

Approaching Kadesh, Ramesses and his army were unaware that the Hittite army was nearby. For easy marching, the four divisions of the army were spaced at the intervals of roughly half-day journeys Ramesess being the commander accompanied by the lead division, Ammon marching behind them are the Ra, the P’tah and the Set Division.

When the Ammon division, two men who portrayed themselves as Bedouin Locals but were Hittites told Ramessess that the Muwatalli hearing that Rameses was coming with his army was frightened and he fled with an army to the north. Ramesess is aware that their story and made no effort to confirm the story. But the story was discovered to be false when the camp guard found two Hittite spies lurking behind, they were caught and subjected to ugly beatings spilt out that the Muwatilli army did not run out of feat but was hiding the side of Kadesh and his army was ready.

Ramessess hearing this immediately dispatched his messenger to race up and met up with the other four divisions to meet at the same location, they are to race up with maximum speed.

Muwatalli first sent forward a strong contingent of his chariots to intercept the Ra division who were coming to the rescue of the Ammon division, in a marching formation the Egyptian army was caught in Utmost surprise. The heavy Hittite chariots swept through the Egypt line that was light, creating a path through the centre of the Egyptian formation, the Egypt Disorganised surviving troops broke the formation and ran.

With the Ra division retreating, they turn back and ram through the Ammon division tent finding themselves amid a maze of tents and wagons, a lot of supplies and military gear. The Hittites were busy with their looting, and this gave Ramesses time to arm and organize himself and gather the chariots of the remaining Ammon division which is enforced by the surviving Ra Division. He then led the assembled Egyptian Chariots in an organized campaign against the distracted and disorganized Hittite army which is busy looting.

Mutawalli saw the fight against him as turning into orders massive fight but they were repelled by the arrival of other Egyptian reinforcements, the first division of chariot to arrive was Ne’arin, which is accompanied by the advance units of the third Egyptian division, assaulted from a new direction by the Ne’arin Attacked from all side the Hittite broke up formation and fled.

The remaining division of the infantry which included the P’tah division which arrived late in the day and the reorganization of the surviving Ammon and the Ra units further strengthened Rammesess formation, charging against the Hittite they fled making the battle end.

Although Muwatalli still had thousands of his army not engaged including the infantry, he withdrew within the wall of Kadesh. Ramesses has proven himself a great leader, snapping victory out of the mouth of defeat. Day after the battle Ramesses signed a truce with Muwatalli, and he and his army returned to Egypt. The Hittites took over the control of Kadesh.

Aftermath 

Although Ramesses won the war he did not win the campaign which was to secure the possession of the Kadesh which the Hittites took possession of. Although Ramesses not achieving his aim this brought a long positive result. Sixteen years after the battle Ramesses and the Hittite signed a peace truce, the peace truce contains the provision not to invade each other boundaries or territories and promises that each country will come to each other aid in case they are attacked from outside or to suppress civil uprising leading to nearly a century peace in Near East.

The Battle of Kadesh serve as a stepping stone for Ramess’s Reputation as a great leader which he would simply prove during his 66-year reign in Egypt, he built many of the most famous monuments we see in Egypt today.