Body: | The Battle of Kadesh, Ramses II
1273 BC
Egyptian Account of the Battle of Kadesh
Behold, his majesty prepared his infantry and his chariotry, the Sherden of
the captivity of his majesty from the victories of his word - they gave the
plan of battle. His majesty proceeded northward, his infantry and his
chariotry being with him. He began the goodly way to march. Year 5, the
second month of the third season tenth month, on the ninth day, his majesty
passed the fortress of Tharu, like Montu [his father] when he goes forth.
Every country trembled before him, fear was in their hearts; all the rebels
came bowing down for fear of the fame of his majesty, when his army came
upon the narrow road, being like one who is upon the highway. (The Battle
of Kadesh, Ramses II, 1273 BC)
Beginning of the victory of King Usermare-Setepnere Ramses II, who is given
life, forever, which he achieved in the land of Kheta and Naharin, in the
land of Arvad, in Pedes, in the Derden, in the land of Mesa, in the land of
Kelekesh, Carchemish, Kode, the land of Kadesh, in the land of Ekereth, and
Mesheneth.
Behold, his majesty prepared his infantry and his chariotry, the Sherden of
the captivity of his majesty from the victories of his word - they gave the
plan of battle. His majesty proceeded northward, his infantry and his
chariotry being with him. He began the goodly way to march. Year 5, the
second month of the third season tenth month, on the ninth day, his majesty
passed the fortress of Tharu, like Montu [his father] when he goes forth.
Every country trembled before him, fear was in their hearts; all the rebels
came bowing down for fear of the fame of his majesty, when his army came
upon the narrow road, being like one who is upon the highway.
Now, after many days after this, behold, his majesty was in
Usermare-Meriamon, the city of cedar. His majesty proceeded northward, and
he then arrived at the highland of Kadesh. Then his majesty marched before,
like his father, Montu lord of Thebes, and crossed over the channel of the
Orontes, there being with him the first division of Amon named:
"Victory-of-King-Usermare-Setepnere."
When his majesty reached the city, behold, the wretched, vanquished chief
of Kheta had come, having gathered together all countries from the ends of
the sea to the land of Kheta, which came entire: the Naharin likewise, and
Arvad, Mesa, Keshkesh, Kelekesh, Luka, Kezweden, Carchemish, Ekereth, Kode,
the entire land of Nuges, Mesheneth, and Kadesh. He left not a country
which was not brought together with their chiefs who were with him, every
man bringing his chariotry, an exceeding great multitude, without its like.
They covered the mountains and the valleys; they were like grasshoppers
with their multitudes. He left not silver nor gold in his land but he
plundered it of all its possessions and gave to every country, in order to
bring them with him to battle.
Behold, the wretched, vanquished chief of Kheta, together with numerous
allied countries, were stationed in battle array, concealed on the
northwest of the city of Kadesh, while his majesty was alone by himself,
with his bodyguard, and the division of Amon was marching behind him. The
division of Re crossed over the river-bed on the south side of the town of
Shabtuna, at the distance of an iter from the division of Amon; the
division of Ptah was on the south of the city of Aranami; and the division
of Sutekh was marching upon the road. His majesty had formed the first rank
of all the leaders of his army, while they were on the shore in the land of
the Amor. Behold, the wretched vanquished chief of Kheta was stationed in
the midst of the infantry which was with him, and he came not out to fight,
for fear of his majesty. Then he made to go the people of the chariotry, an
exceedingly numerous multitude like the sand, being three people to each
span. Now, they had made their combinations thus: among every three youths
was one man of the vanquished of Kheta, equipped with all the weapons of
battle. Lo, they had stationed them in battle array, concealed northwest of
the city of Kadesh.
They came forth from the southern side of Kadesh, and they cut through the
division of Re in its middle, while they were marching without knowing and
without being drawn up for battle. The infantry and chariotry of his
majesty retreated before them. Now, his majesty had halted on the north of
the city of Kadesh, on the western side of the Orontes. Then came one to
tell it to his majesty
His majesty shone like his father Montu, when he took the adornments of
war; as he seized his coat of mail, he was like Baal in his hour. The great
span which bore his majesty called: "Victory-in-Tebes," from the great
stables of Ramses II, was in the midst of the leaders. His majesty halted
in the rout; then he charged into the foe, the vanquished of Kheta, being
alone by himself and none other with him. When his majesty went to look
behind him, he found 2,500 chariotry surrounding him, in his way out, being
all the youth of the wretched Kheta, together with its numerous allied
countries: from Arvad, from Mesa, from Pedes, from Keshkesh, from Erwenet,
from Kezweden, from Aleppo, Eketeri, Kadesh, and Luka, being three men to a
span, acting in unison.
Year 5, third month of the third season, day 9; under the majesty of Horus:
Mighty Bull, Beloved of Truth; King of Upper and Lower Egypt:
Usermare-Setepnere; Son of Re; Ramses-Meriamon, given life forever.
Lo, his majesty was in Zahi on his second victorious campaign. The goodly
watch in life, prosperity and health, in the tent of his majesty, was on
the highland south of Kadesh.
When his majesty appeared like the rising of Re, he assumed the adornments
of his father, Montu. When the king proceeded northward, and his majesty
had arrived at the locality south of the town of Shabtuna, there came two
Shasu, to speak to his majesty as follows: "Our brethren, who belong to the
greatest of the families with the vanquished chief of Kheta, have made us
come to his majesty, to say: 'We will be subjects of Pharaoh and we will
flee from the vanquished chief of Kheta; for the vanquished chief of Kheta
sits in the land of Aleppo, on the north of Tunip. He fears because of
Pharaoh to come southward.'" Now, these Shasu spake these words, which they
spake to his majesty, falsely, for the vanquished chief of Kheta made them
come to spy where his majesty was, in order to cause the army of his
majesty not to draw up for fighting him, to battle with the vanquished
chief of Kheta.
Lo, the vanquished chief of Kheta came with every chief of every country,
their infantry and their chariotry, which he had brought with him by force,
and stood, equipped, drawn up in line of battle behind Kadesh the
Deceitful, while his majesty knew it not. Then his majesty proceeded
northward and arrived on the northwest of Kadesh; and the army of his
majesty made camp there.
Then, as his majesty sat upon a throne of gold, there arrived a scout who
was in the following of his majesty, and he brought two scouts of the
vanquished chief of Kheta. They were conducted into the presence, and his
majesty said to them: "What are ye?" They said: "As for us, the vanquished
chief of the Kheta has caused that we should come to spy out where his
majesty is." Said his majesty to them: "He! Where is he, the vanquished
chief of Kheta? Behold, I have heard, saying: 'He is in the land of
Aleppo,'" Said they: "See, the vanquished chief of Kheta is stationed,
together with many countries, which he has brought with him by force, being
every country which is in the districts of the land of Kheta, the land of
Naharin, and all Kode. They are equipped with infantry and chariotry,
bearing their weapons; more numerous are they than the sand of the shore.
See, they are standing, drawn up for battle, behind Kadesh the Deceitful."
Then his majesty had the princes called into the presence, and had them
hear every word which the two scouts of the vanquished chief of Kheta, who
were in the presence, had spoken. Said his majesty to them: "See ye the
manner wherewith the chiefs of the peasantry and the officials under whom
is the land of Pharaoh have stood, daily, saying to the Pharaoh: 'The
vanquished chief of Kheta is in the land of Aleppo; he has fled before his
majesty, since hearing that, behold, he came.' So spake they to his majesty
daily. But see, I have held a hearing in this very hour, with the two
scouts of the vanquished chief of Kheta, to the effect that the vanquished
chief of Kheta is coming, together with the numerous countries that are
with him, being people and horses, like the multitudes of the sand. They
are stationed behind Kadesh the Deceitful. But the governors of the
countries and the officials under whose authority is the land of Pharaoh
were not able to tell it to us."
Said the princes who were in the presence of his majesty: "It is a great
fault, which the governors of the countries and the officials of Pharaoh
have committed in not informing that the vanquished chief of Kheta was near
the king; and in that they told his report to his majesty daily."
Then the vizier was ordered to hasten the army of his majesty, while they
were marching on the south of Shabtuna, in order to bring them to the place
where his majesty was.
Lo, while his majesty sat talking with the princes, the vanquished chief of
Kheta came, and the numerous countries, which were with him. They crossed
over the channel on the south of Kadesh, and charged into the army of his
majesty while they were marching, and not expecting it. Then the infantry
and chariotry of his majesty retreated before them, northward to the place
where his majesty was. Lo, the foes of the vanquished chief of Kheta
surrounded the bodyguard of his majesty, who were by his side.
When his majesty saw them, he was enraged against them, like his father,
Montu, lord of Thebes. He seized the adornments of battle, and arrayed
himself in his coat of mail. He was like Baal in his hour. Then he betook
himself to his horses, and led quickly on, being alone by himself. He
charged into the foes of the vanquished chief of Kheta, and the numerous
countries which were with him. His majesty was like Sutekh, the great in
strength, smiting and slaying among them; his majesty hurled them headlong,
one upon another into the water of the Orontes.
"I charged all countries, while I was alone, my infantry and my chariotry
having forsaken me. Not one among them stood to turn about. I swear, as Re
loves me, as my father, Atum, favors me, that, as for every matter which
his majesty has stated, I did it in truth, in the presence of my infantry
and my chariotry."
James Henry Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt: Historical Documents.
(Chicago: 1906), III:136-147
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