Megiddo -1479 Medium Empire

First told battle and first campaign of pharao Tuthmosis IIIrd,  who, leader of an Egyptian army, leaves to repress a Palestinian rebellion supported by the Syrians. King of the Syrian city of Kadesh positioned his army to Megiddo, strategic place which allowed him to control the gorge leading to the plain of Esdraelon.
Tuthmosis displayed his army in three armed forces and, at dawn, launched a lightning attack. To indicate the appearance of the archers on charriot. Other name for this battle, the name of Quinnah's brook. The rebels found refuge in Megiddo's fortress. The Egyptians, who could take away a definitive victory on their opponents, stop to plunder the enemy camp. Thoutmosis took Megiddo's fortress after a seat of seven months. The losers supply to Tutmhosis a levy with chariots (924 according to the Egyptians) and in wheat. It is the first battle reported in the history.
 

Return to Egypt



Ramses IInd on his chariot


 

Kadesh or Qadesh towards -1290 Medium Empire
 

Kadesh, near the city of Homs on Oronte, in Syria, is a considerable stake in the conflicts which set the Egyptians against the Hittites for the rule of the Syrian corridor. The ground is mountainous. Tuthmosis IIIrd beat there Mitanniens, besieged several times Kadesh, and took her towards 1474. This battle of Kadesh is the very first

battle of the history for which the tactics are known:

The Pharaoh Ramesses IInd, to resume the Syrian town of Kadesh, leads his army with 20 000 men. (infantry and charrerie), echeloned in 4 armed forces and an auxiliary troop, Ne arins or Na' arn, walking separately towards Kadesh, by following the road of the coast by Palestine and Lebanon.

Muwatalli, the Hittite leader, leader of a big coalition, holds his army, including 35 000 men of infantry and 3500 heavy chariots, behind the city. He is informed well about the situation of the Egyptians and emits false reports, describing him towards Alep, more in the North. Ramesses grave in the trap, sends its troops towards Kadesh and installs the camp with the 1st armed force (Amon). Two hittite scouts are arrested and reveal the situation, too late.The Egyptian army is stretched on 30 km. 2 500 chariots, containing each three men, cross the river, push the 2nd armed force ( Re), in movement, cut in two, which the surviving chariots sow the panic among the soldiers of the 1st armed force, and give the assault to the Egyptian camp. The Hittites surprise defenders and rush for the plunder. The convenient tactical arrival of chariots Nearins, Ramesses's tactics and courage allow to the Egyptians to get out of affair by counter-attacking the Hittites, flying the Egyptian victims.

The Egyptian reinforcements, 3rd and 4th armed forces (Ptah and Seth) allow to push away the Hittite chariots, especially since the Hittite infantry did not move. The Egyptians attack Kadesh's fortress, but the city stands firm. The fights continue during 17 years. It is a tactical victory for Ramesses, but the Hittites keep Syria.
A perpetual treaty will be signed between Hatti and Egypt. The border becomes established on Oronte and a long peace period opens for Egypt.
 
 




Prisoners of Ramesses IInd to Abu Simbel



 

Return on the page Egypt

Return on the page Hittites


 


 

Raphia -217  - Lagide Time
 

Raffia or Rapihiu is a town of Palestine, in the south of Gaza, currently Rafa. Sargon II, the Assyrian is victorious there Egyptians in - 720.

The third war of Syria between Antiochos IIIrd and Ptolemy IVth Philippator starts with the advantage of Seleucid which benefits from the treason of the governor of Coele-Syria to make itself some main. Having skilfully saved time by the negotiation, Egypt recruits Greek mercenaries and for want of money, involves approximately 20 000 Egyptians, peasants and also oarsmen of the fleet who take part in the immense phalanx constituting the heart of this army, adding up approximately 70 000 soldiers. The elephants and the cavalry are massed on the wings.

The provision is similar for the seleucid army which has a superiority for these two types of troops. This army counts also a strong center including the Greek phalanx and mercenaries. The total army reaches 62 000 soldiers and lack of homogeneity. More mobile, the seleucid army has the initiative, Antiochos massed its heavy cavalry (4 000 riders) on the line of its army and joined to it. Its plan aims at breaking through the Egyptian left wing, to pass round by the back the enemy army, to capture and kill Ptolemy.

The battle starts well for Seleucid. The indians elephants, stronger and more (60 against 40), insert the African elephants and the left wing lagide rout Antiochos launches out to the continuation of this left wing with its squadron of heavy cavalry, believing to have seen its enemy in the runaways. Ptolemy, makes some is in the medium of its army and gives the order to its right wing, ordered by the Echecrates General, to attack the left wing seleucid which it puts in rout. The Egyptian phalanx tackles its seleucid equivalent then already with the catches with the cavalry and will make the decision. The phalanx seleucid does not hold and when Antiochos returns after its insane continuation, it can note the heavy defeat and its overcome army. The treaty which concludes this war, gives again in Egypt its Syrian possessions.
 
 
 
 

Return to the banner page

Return in top of page


 
 



visitors
 
 
 


 


 
 
 
 
 



 
Visiteurs
Netissime nom de domaine