2. Foreign Relations
2.1 Maintenance and administration of the ‘empire’: Nubian and Syria-Palestine
Nubia
- It is clear that Akhenaten marinated traditional foreign policy in Nubia, including the construction of towns and military campaigns.
- Early in his reign, he founded a town at Sesebi, near the fourth cataract of the Nile. Although it was originally dedicated to Amun, the town was redirected to the Aten
- Another town at Kawa was named Gem pa- Aten, like the temple at east Karnak.
- In year 12 the army, under the command of the victory of Kush, Thutmose, was sent to Nubia to put down a rebellion there. This is recorded on a stela at Buhen.
Syria- Palestine
- Akhenaten has long been blamed for losing Egypt’s sphere of influence in the Syria- Palestine region.
- It is argued that Akhenaten was sensitive to Egypt’s interests and monitored the balance of power in the near east
- Evidence comes from the new interpretations of the Amarna letters (the diplomatic correspondence between the pharaoh and his new eastern neighbors found in the archives at Akhentaten), as well as the temples at East Karnak
- In the early years of his reign his armies appear to have campaigned against the apiru outlaw bands of Palestine, some of whom the king resettled in Nubia.
- Akhenaten was the first pharaoh to adopt a similar policy of resettling Nubian rebels in Palestine.
- Akhenaten is also known to have fought at least one war against the Hittities, the rapidly growing power in the region.
- It is clear that Akhenaten marinated traditional foreign policy in Nubia, including the construction of towns and military campaigns.
- Early in his reign, he founded a town at Sesebi, near the fourth cataract of the Nile. Although it was originally dedicated to Amun, the town was redirected to the Aten
- Another town at Kawa was named Gem pa- Aten, like the temple at east Karnak.
- In year 12 the army, under the command of the victory of Kush, Thutmose, was sent to Nubia to put down a rebellion there. This is recorded on a stela at Buhen.
Syria- Palestine
- Akhenaten has long been blamed for losing Egypt’s sphere of influence in the Syria- Palestine region.
- It is argued that Akhenaten was sensitive to Egypt’s interests and monitored the balance of power in the near east
- Evidence comes from the new interpretations of the Amarna letters (the diplomatic correspondence between the pharaoh and his new eastern neighbors found in the archives at Akhentaten), as well as the temples at East Karnak
- In the early years of his reign his armies appear to have campaigned against the apiru outlaw bands of Palestine, some of whom the king resettled in Nubia.
- Akhenaten was the first pharaoh to adopt a similar policy of resettling Nubian rebels in Palestine.
- Akhenaten is also known to have fought at least one war against the Hittities, the rapidly growing power in the region.
2.2 Relationship with vassal rulers: Rib-Addi of Byblos, Aziru of Amurru
- The Hittites began to expand their territory, coming into contact with Egypt’s northern vassals
- Syrian Princes, including Aziru of Amurru, began to take the opportunity to attack each other and form alliances
- Aziru did this as, while he was allied with Egypt, he was right next to the Hittites and wanted to avoid any unplesantries with the expanding empire, as well as create his own sphere of influence
- He double-crossed both the Egyptians and Hittites, declaring to be friend to both in order to save his own skin
- Complaints of his attacks are recorded in the Amarna letters, most of all from Prince Rib-addi of Byblos
- Akhenaten wrote to Aziru to demand his presence at court to explain his actions, however he delayed by claiming the Hittite presence prevented him from leaving his territory
- When he made it to Egypt, he was imprisoned for several years before being released, at which time he renounced his Egyptian alliance and joined forces with the Hittites at his gate
- The problem remained unresolved until the Hittites claimed the land at the conclusion of the peace treaty with Ramesses II
- Syrian Princes, including Aziru of Amurru, began to take the opportunity to attack each other and form alliances
- Aziru did this as, while he was allied with Egypt, he was right next to the Hittites and wanted to avoid any unplesantries with the expanding empire, as well as create his own sphere of influence
- He double-crossed both the Egyptians and Hittites, declaring to be friend to both in order to save his own skin
- Complaints of his attacks are recorded in the Amarna letters, most of all from Prince Rib-addi of Byblos
- Akhenaten wrote to Aziru to demand his presence at court to explain his actions, however he delayed by claiming the Hittite presence prevented him from leaving his territory
- When he made it to Egypt, he was imprisoned for several years before being released, at which time he renounced his Egyptian alliance and joined forces with the Hittites at his gate
- The problem remained unresolved until the Hittites claimed the land at the conclusion of the peace treaty with Ramesses II
2.3 Image of the ‘warrior pharaoh’
Warrior/Hunter Pharaoh
- One of the main roles of the Pharaoh was to be the warrior and to protect Egypt
- The symbol for this role was the Sphinx
- Archery, chariot riding and mastering horses were some of the first skills a Pharaoh learned
- Often led their people into battle as they were the head of the military and victories were depicted in paintings on palace or temple walls
- Inscriptions often praise their Pharaohs as sportsmen, celebrating their strength, endurance, skill and courage.
Amenhotep III --> More passive
How was Akhenaten depicted?
Some poses are still the traditional warrior and leader poses, however there are many poses that differ from this such as being with his family, the same size as his wife, mostly just in a more natural pose that shows an emotional reaction.
Compare and contrast Seti I and Ramesses II’s role as warrior kings
- One of the main roles of the Pharaoh was to be the warrior and to protect Egypt
- The symbol for this role was the Sphinx
- Archery, chariot riding and mastering horses were some of the first skills a Pharaoh learned
- Often led their people into battle as they were the head of the military and victories were depicted in paintings on palace or temple walls
- Inscriptions often praise their Pharaohs as sportsmen, celebrating their strength, endurance, skill and courage.
Amenhotep III --> More passive
How was Akhenaten depicted?
Some poses are still the traditional warrior and leader poses, however there are many poses that differ from this such as being with his family, the same size as his wife, mostly just in a more natural pose that shows an emotional reaction.
Compare and contrast Seti I and Ramesses II’s role as warrior kings
Seti I
- A warrior king in the pattern of the 18th dynasty Pharaohs - Re-established Egyptian control over Palestine - Reclaimed the southern half of the Phoenician coastline - Subdued Amurru - Stormed the city of Kadesh - Re-created Egypt’s empire - Brought Egypt back into proper government and prosperity |
Similarities
- Reclaimed Egypt’s previously lost land and possessions - Conquered regions previously out of Egypt’s control (Phonecian coastline and Kadesh) - Both contributed to the rebuilding of Egypt’s former glory - They both had an active military |
Ramesses II
- Had bounds of ambition to allow him to dislodge the Hittites from Amurru and Kadesh - Recaptured all of Egypt’s former possessions in Syria - Held a campaign against Kadesh in year 5 - Further offensives in years 7-17 - He had limited successes - Symbol of the proud mastery of Egypt through the ages |
2.4 Changing relations with foreign powers: Mitanni, Hittites
- Mitanni were the strongest power in the north, and formed alliances with Syria, especially the strategically important town of Kadesh. This checked Egyptian attempts at expansion.
- The Egyptians eventually sought peace with the Mitanni after failing to conquer the north.
- This, together with a policy of diplomatic marriage of Mitanni princesses to the Egyptian kings, during the reign of Amenhotep III, ensured peace between the two kingdoms
- This was set to change with the appearance of an aggressive new power on the scene—the Hittites.
- In year 10 of his reign Amenhotep III married Gilukhepa, a daughter of the Mitannian king. He also married daughters of Babylonian, Syrian and Arzawa as well.
- Suppiluliumas’ accession marked the beginning of a period of aggressive Hittite expansion into the Mitanni kingdom
- Suppiluliumas congratulated Akhenaten and declared friendship with Egypt when he became Pharaoh, while planning attacks on Mittani
- While scholars believe Akhenaten did nothing to prevent Hittite aggression, evidence on the Talatat from his East Karnak temples indicate there was in fact a war perhaps between years 1 and 4
- The Egyptians eventually sought peace with the Mitanni after failing to conquer the north.
- This, together with a policy of diplomatic marriage of Mitanni princesses to the Egyptian kings, during the reign of Amenhotep III, ensured peace between the two kingdoms
- This was set to change with the appearance of an aggressive new power on the scene—the Hittites.
- In year 10 of his reign Amenhotep III married Gilukhepa, a daughter of the Mitannian king. He also married daughters of Babylonian, Syrian and Arzawa as well.
- Suppiluliumas’ accession marked the beginning of a period of aggressive Hittite expansion into the Mitanni kingdom
- Suppiluliumas congratulated Akhenaten and declared friendship with Egypt when he became Pharaoh, while planning attacks on Mittani
- While scholars believe Akhenaten did nothing to prevent Hittite aggression, evidence on the Talatat from his East Karnak temples indicate there was in fact a war perhaps between years 1 and 4
2.5 Ramesside imperialism: the wars of Seti I and Ramesses II
Campaign
1st Campaign
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Locations
Shasu Bedouin in Southern Palestine
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Significance
This conquest was part of the step of having a firm grip on Palestine, which will allow Seti I to later gain control of Kadesh and Amurru
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2nd Campaign
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Phoenician coast and Egyptian coastal route into Northern Palestine, Yenoam, Beth-Shan and Hammath
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Egypt gaining more ground for the empire, particularly the Phoenician coast, was another step in the right direction in order to conquer Kadesh and Amurru
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3rd Campaign
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Levant (modern Lebanon) and the sea ports of the northern Syrian coasts
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Important towns, such as Simyra and Ullaza were captured and allowed for advancement on Kadesh and Amurru
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4th Campaign
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Kadesh and Amurru - the allegiance of the coastal cities assured, and his flank and supply lines by sea into the Phoenician ports were secured.
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Conquering Kadesh allowed Seti to move on Amurru, this, however, angered the Hittites and led to Seti entering into the peace treaty, which lost Egypt these two cities
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5th Campaign
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The Nile Delta (Against the Libyans)
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The campaign brought about disturbing problems that would emerge in the time of Ramesses II in his Lybian War
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Evidence
The principal evidence for the campaigns of SetiI in Syria—Palestine consists of a series of sculptured scenes on the outside of the north wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall in Karnak Temple
The principal evidence for the campaigns of SetiI in Syria—Palestine consists of a series of sculptured scenes on the outside of the north wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall in Karnak Temple
2.6 Battle of Kadesh: background, course and consequences
Background
Kadesh, being a strategically important stronghold, had been fought over many times before and changed hands between the Egyptians and Hittites several times.
- Thutmose I, Thutmose III and Amenhotep II fought a battle against Megiddo, which involved Kadesh
- Horemheb returned Egypt’s attention back to the region during his reign
- Seti I set out to reclaim this area for Egypt, following his father’s, Ramesses II, footsteps alongside his son, Ramesses II, who was his heir to the throne. Though they claimed Kadesh, it later fell back into Hittite hands as the Hittite king reclaimed this land.
In the fourth year of his reign, Ramesses II led an early campaign against Canaan and at the same time, captured the Hittite vassal of Amurru.
Amurru was then coerced to align themselves against Egypt and with the Hittites, which gave them the motivation to march south into Kadesh.
Ramesses marched north in his fifth year following him being given false information about a group of Syria abandoning the Hittites for Egypt and so he led the Egyptian army to Kadesh, and the battle followed.
Course
The two commanders of the battle were Ramesses II of Egypt against Muwatalli II of the Hittite Empire.
1. The Egyptian Empire had moved north claiming lands as they went, this was an issue as the Hittite Empire was found north and they were not pleased about losing lands to Egyptians.
2. The Egyptians had battled all the way to the Orontes river and it was here that the Hittites saw an opportunity to try and inflict a trap against the Egyptians at Kadesh.
3. The Hittites had used a great element of surprise to help them in the battle, by making two Nomads tells the Egyptians that the Hittite army was 200 kilometres away, rather than only 11 kilometres away.
4. Egyptian scouts had captured two Hittite scouts who when beaten, revealed the ambush that Muwatallis had prepared for the Egyptians.
5. Unfortunately Ramesses made a major battle fault by splitting one of his divisions from the other three. The Hittites attack decimated the attacking forces of the Re division and then moved to the Amun division were most the soldiers were routed. “They charged into his majesty’s army as it marched unaware …” (Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. II, p. 61).
6. With the arrival of reinforcements, Ramesses brought his forces back together in a solid formation and the chariots of the Hittites were overrun by the Egyptians, most of them being killed and others escaping by swimming across the Orones river.
7. The next day the Hittite reserve army launched another attack, however gave no clear victory to either side. Both the Hittites and the Egyptians lost many men and the Egyptians were unable to break down the Hittites to gain more land. The outcome of the Battle of Kadesh is disputed with some old text saying the Egyptians won and others saying the Hittites won.
According to the Egyptian accounts, the Hittites then sued for peace stating “Peace is better than fighting. Give us breath!” (Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. II, p. 71)
Consequence
- No victor in the end-
- Empire gained alliance with Hittites
- Made peace treaty
- 13 years later Ramesses married another Hittite princess- recorded on marriage stela erected at Abu Simbel to commemorate occasion-
- Due to the treaty lost his chance to capture Kadesh like other 18th dynasty pharaohs- no more opportunities to win military glory in northern Syria-
- Able to devote second half of reign to diplomatic ventures, honouring the gods, building on massive scale & celebrating numerous Sed festivals
“Excellent, excellent is this decision about which my Brother has written me… [our] two great countries will become as one land, forever!” written by Ramesses II in response to a letter from Hittite queen, Pudukhepa, mother of the bride about the upcoming marriage
Kadesh, being a strategically important stronghold, had been fought over many times before and changed hands between the Egyptians and Hittites several times.
- Thutmose I, Thutmose III and Amenhotep II fought a battle against Megiddo, which involved Kadesh
- Horemheb returned Egypt’s attention back to the region during his reign
- Seti I set out to reclaim this area for Egypt, following his father’s, Ramesses II, footsteps alongside his son, Ramesses II, who was his heir to the throne. Though they claimed Kadesh, it later fell back into Hittite hands as the Hittite king reclaimed this land.
In the fourth year of his reign, Ramesses II led an early campaign against Canaan and at the same time, captured the Hittite vassal of Amurru.
Amurru was then coerced to align themselves against Egypt and with the Hittites, which gave them the motivation to march south into Kadesh.
Ramesses marched north in his fifth year following him being given false information about a group of Syria abandoning the Hittites for Egypt and so he led the Egyptian army to Kadesh, and the battle followed.
Course
The two commanders of the battle were Ramesses II of Egypt against Muwatalli II of the Hittite Empire.
1. The Egyptian Empire had moved north claiming lands as they went, this was an issue as the Hittite Empire was found north and they were not pleased about losing lands to Egyptians.
2. The Egyptians had battled all the way to the Orontes river and it was here that the Hittites saw an opportunity to try and inflict a trap against the Egyptians at Kadesh.
3. The Hittites had used a great element of surprise to help them in the battle, by making two Nomads tells the Egyptians that the Hittite army was 200 kilometres away, rather than only 11 kilometres away.
4. Egyptian scouts had captured two Hittite scouts who when beaten, revealed the ambush that Muwatallis had prepared for the Egyptians.
5. Unfortunately Ramesses made a major battle fault by splitting one of his divisions from the other three. The Hittites attack decimated the attacking forces of the Re division and then moved to the Amun division were most the soldiers were routed. “They charged into his majesty’s army as it marched unaware …” (Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. II, p. 61).
6. With the arrival of reinforcements, Ramesses brought his forces back together in a solid formation and the chariots of the Hittites were overrun by the Egyptians, most of them being killed and others escaping by swimming across the Orones river.
7. The next day the Hittite reserve army launched another attack, however gave no clear victory to either side. Both the Hittites and the Egyptians lost many men and the Egyptians were unable to break down the Hittites to gain more land. The outcome of the Battle of Kadesh is disputed with some old text saying the Egyptians won and others saying the Hittites won.
According to the Egyptian accounts, the Hittites then sued for peace stating “Peace is better than fighting. Give us breath!” (Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. II, p. 71)
Consequence
- No victor in the end-
- Empire gained alliance with Hittites
- Made peace treaty
- 13 years later Ramesses married another Hittite princess- recorded on marriage stela erected at Abu Simbel to commemorate occasion-
- Due to the treaty lost his chance to capture Kadesh like other 18th dynasty pharaohs- no more opportunities to win military glory in northern Syria-
- Able to devote second half of reign to diplomatic ventures, honouring the gods, building on massive scale & celebrating numerous Sed festivals
“Excellent, excellent is this decision about which my Brother has written me… [our] two great countries will become as one land, forever!” written by Ramesses II in response to a letter from Hittite queen, Pudukhepa, mother of the bride about the upcoming marriage
2.7 Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty, diplomatic marriage, trade and cultural exchange
- Egypt’s refusal to extradite a Hittite contender in the struggle, who had sought refuge in Egypt, brought the two powers to the brink of war.
- The Hittites faced an attack by the Assyrians, which led them to begin negotiating a peace settlement with Egypt, which was finalised in year 21.
- Egypt officially lost Amurru and Kadesh, but the long-standing hostility between Egypt and the Hittites was at an end.
- The provisions of the treaty included:
- The end of all hostilities and the formation of a friendly alliance
- A promise of no further aggression
- A mutual defense agreement against attack by another power
- A guarantee of the succession in both countries
- The mutual extradition and fair treatment of exchanged prisoners
- The Phoenician ports would now be available to Egypt
- They were given access as far north as Ugarit
- Agreement was not to invade each others territories and work together against other foreign rulers e.g. Syrians.
- Married daughter of Prince of Hittites which created stronger bond between nation- brought dowry which included animals, slaves,
jewels and other items
- Relations between the two countries were further strengthened by a marriage, in about year 34, between Ramesses II and the Hittite princess who was named Maat-hor-neferure.
- The Hittites faced an attack by the Assyrians, which led them to begin negotiating a peace settlement with Egypt, which was finalised in year 21.
- Egypt officially lost Amurru and Kadesh, but the long-standing hostility between Egypt and the Hittites was at an end.
- The provisions of the treaty included:
- The end of all hostilities and the formation of a friendly alliance
- A promise of no further aggression
- A mutual defense agreement against attack by another power
- A guarantee of the succession in both countries
- The mutual extradition and fair treatment of exchanged prisoners
- The Phoenician ports would now be available to Egypt
- They were given access as far north as Ugarit
- Agreement was not to invade each others territories and work together against other foreign rulers e.g. Syrians.
- Married daughter of Prince of Hittites which created stronger bond between nation- brought dowry which included animals, slaves,
jewels and other items
- Relations between the two countries were further strengthened by a marriage, in about year 34, between Ramesses II and the Hittite princess who was named Maat-hor-neferure.