Pharaoh Ramses the Great, Ancient Egypt: board, biography

Revival of the country's military might, victories in bloody battles, erection of majestic architectural monuments ... These events mark the era of Ramesses, which is considered the brightest page in the history of Ancient Egypt. Its chronological framework - XIII-XI centuries. BC. E. In this era, the Egyptian throne was replaced by 18 pharaohs. The most powerful ruler was Ramses the Great. He made a significant contribution to the history of the state.

The ancestors of the great pharaoh

The era of Ramessida begins with the accession to the Egyptian throne of Ramses I. This event occurred approximately in 1292 BC. E. Pharaoh did not leave a bright trace in history. This is due to the fact that the period of his rule was very short. The power in the hands of the pharaoh was only a few years.

Approximately in 1290 BC. E. The son of Ramses I - Seti I joined the Egyptian throne. His coming to power marked the beginning of the period of the country's rebirth after a temporary decline. Pharaoh managed to create prerequisites for the future blossoming of the state. Network I ruled Egypt for about 11 years. Approximately in 1279 BC. E. Power passed into the hands of Ramses II. He was the son of Seti I.

The new ruler

Ramses, whose biography contains many interesting facts, at the time of his accession to the throne was very young. It is impossible to name the specific individual qualities that he possessed. In Egypt, all the pharaohs were considered emissaries of the gods, therefore in all sources they, like Ramses II, were described according to the standard pattern. However, the actions of the new ruler indicate that he was an ambitious, strong and determined person.

Pharaoh Ramses II, having ascended the throne, immediately ordered his subjects to cover the names of their predecessors on the monuments. The ruler wanted the Egyptian people to remember only him. Also, Ramses II ordered everyone to call himself an elected Amon, a benefactor of the Egyptian state and an invincible hero.

The first trip to Asia

The main enemies of Egypt were the Hittites. For several decades the Pharaohs fought hard against this people, who lived in Asia Minor. Ramses II, ascended to the throne, continued the work of his predecessors. In the fourth year of the reign, the young Pharaoh decided to fight the Hittites.

The first campaign was successful. The Egyptians defeated the opponents and captured the city of Berit. The Egyptian pharaoh did not want to stop there. Ramses II decided to make a second campaign in a year against the Hittites and once and for all put an end to the long-standing enemies.

The trap for the pharaoh

The second campaign in Asia, Ramesses the Great committed in the fifth year of his reign. After mustering a twenty thousand strong army, the young pharaoh moved out of Memphis. The main purpose of the campaign was to capture Kadesh, which was at that time the main city of the Hittites, and the annexation of other enemy possessions to Egypt.

The Egyptian army consisted of five closely-knit detachments. The Hittites were afraid to fight their enemy. They understood that their strength was not enough to win a fair battle. Their army consisted of detachments of allies, which it was very difficult to manage. The Hittites planned to win by fraud. To this end, they sent Ramses II nomads-shasu. They had to inform the Egyptian pharaoh that the Hittite troops were far from Kadesh.

The enemy plan worked. Ramses II was misinformed by nomads. Believing that the Hittite troops are not around, the Egyptian ruler moved with one detachment to the city. The Hittites actually waited for the Egyptians near Kadesh on Orontes. Pharaoh Ramses II, realizing that he was trapped, sent his vizier to hurry the rest of the detachments.

Results of the Battle of Kadesh

The battle of Kadesh is described in detail in the Egyptian and Hittite sources. The battle was fierce. The detachment led by Ramses II suffered considerable losses. Despite this, the Egyptians managed to escape from the trap. A great role was played by the courage of the pharaoh and the approach of reinforcement. Ramzes II managed to avoid complete defeat.

After the battle of Kadesh, the Hittite king made an agreement with the Egyptian pharaoh. This event enabled the young ruler to retreat with honor. Returning to Egypt, Ramses II sent a report to the capital, which spoke of victory in a military campaign. In this regard, the ruler was called the great commander and victor. In the Hittite sources it is indicated that the battle of Kadesh ended with the defeat of the Egyptians.

Construction under the pharaoh

Ramses the Great during his reign erected a huge number of temple complexes, obelisks, monuments. After the victory over the Hittites, the ruler ordered a large cave temple in the cliff located in Nubia on the west bank of the Nile and called Abu Simbel. It featured important historical events and inscriptions. Entrance to the cave was decorated with 4 statues with the appearance of the great Egyptian pharaoh.

In the Abu Simbel cliff there was also carved a second temple of a smaller size. Ramses II ordered him to be erected in honor of his beloved Nefertari, who is his first wife. Before the entrance to the small church there were 6 statues. On each side, two faces of the pharaoh were installed and one by the queen Nefertari.

Each Egyptian ruler during his lifetime built a memorial temple for himself. This was done also by Ramses II, erecting Ramesseum in Thebes on the west bank of the Nile. On the territory of the building was a huge statue of an Egyptian ruler. Its weight was about 1000 tons. Inside the temple on the stone walls were carved scenes of the Battle of Kadesh.

Erection of the city

Of particular note is the construction of Per-Ramses, the capital of the Egyptian state. This city was erected in the delta of the Nile, where the childhood of the great pharaoh passed. Perhaps, its construction began even at the Network I. The works were completed in the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II.

For a long time, modern researchers could not understand where the Per-Ramses was located. The name of the city was mentioned in ancient Egyptian sources, but no one could discover the ruins. Found Per-Ramses archaeologist Manfred Bitak. After him, Edgar Push took up the excavation. The researcher, having made pictures of hidden ruins, has created a detailed plan of the city. It turned out that Per-Ramesses was a big and beautiful capital.

On the city plan, the outline of a rectangular structure was seen. These were the ruins of the temple. At the site of the building, archaeologists discovered pieces of a huge statue of the Egyptian pharaoh. Also here were found a cartouche with the name of Ramses the Great.

During the excavations a workshop was also found. In it, several millennia ago, when Ramses the Great ruled, they produced colored glass. This was confirmed by clay jars found in which raw materials were heated to high temperatures. Ornaments, vessels were cut from the received material in other workshops of the city.

A fragment of the tablet was recently discovered in Per-Ramesses. There are only a few lines left on it. Researchers suggested that the text is a snippet of the treaty concluded between the Hittite king Hattusili III and the Egyptian ruler. The plate found confirms the existence of the Ramses II archive.

Wives and children of the Egyptian pharaoh

The family of Ramses II was quite large. It is known that the Egyptian pharaoh had 4 lawful wives. His first and most beloved wife was Nefertari Merenmut. She was considered tsarina already in the first year of the rule of Ramses II. Nefertari had several sons and daughters. The eldest son of Pharaoh and the queen was named Amenherunmef.

The second wife of Ramses II was Istnofrat. In many buildings it is depicted with their children. The eldest daughter of Ramses II and Istnofrat was Bent-Anat. According to some reports, the girl entered the harem of the pharaoh and became his wife. Eastfreet also had a son Merneptah. After the death of Ramses II, he ascended the throne.

The third legitimate wife of the Egyptian pharaoh is Maatnefrura. She was the daughter of the Hittite king Hattusili III. The marriage took place 13 years after the conclusion of a peace treaty with the Hittites. The Egyptian texts indicate that Ramzes II was struck by the beauty of Maatnefrura. Every day Pharaoh saw the queen and admired her.

The fourth wife of Ramses II is another daughter of the Hittite king Hattusili III. Unfortunately, her name is unknown. The researchers also suggest that the Egyptian overlord had another legitimate wife. She was the younger sister of Ramses II - Henutmyr. There is no information about it. Most likely, Henutmyr died at a young age, not even having children to give birth to Ramses II.

Pharaoh's death and burial

The Egyptian state of Ramses II ruled very long. He survived his 12 sons. When the great pharaoh died, the throne was joined by his 13th son - Merneptah.

The tomb of Ramses II is the place where the great ruler was buried. After a while, graveyard graves visited. The priests carried the body of Ramses II several times. However, all new burial sites were later desecrated by thieves. Eventually, the mummy of Ramses was placed in a rocky hiding place, located in Deir el-Bahi. Now it is stored in the Cairo Museum.

Ramses II is a legendary man. The Pharaoh's rule lasted more than 60 years. During these years, he did a lot for the prosperity and strengthening of the power of the Egyptian state. No subsequent ruler could surpass Pharaoh Ramses II.