An illustrated look at Ancient Egypt and one of the earliest recorded battles that put a stop to Ramesses II's drive into Syria.In c. 1286 BC, Ramesses II was pharaoh and commander of the Egyptian army. He led an expedition northwards from the eastern delta, through Palestine, and aimed for the city of Kadesh, which was currently in the hands of the Hittites. What Ramesses did not expect was that the Hittites' leader, King Muwatallis, was in the city, which made his plans much harder. Meeting in battle at the Orontes River in southern Syria, it was the largest clash of chariots ever seen. The Hittites proved to be formidable opponents, managing to slice through the second division of the Egyptian army with a targeted chariot attack. In the end, the Hittites were forced to retreat but the Egyptians also failed to capture Kadesh and had to withdraw out of Syria.In this detailed volume, Egyptologist Anthony Spalinger explores the history of the Egyptians and Hittites, looking at how they fought and how Kadesh came to be considered one of the most decisive battles of the ancient world. With stunning artwork, maps, diagrams and images of carvings from multiple temples, Ancient Egypt is brought to life, showcasing one of the earliest recorded set-piece battles.
| ISBN: | 9781472870551 |
| Publication date: | 30th July 2026 |
| Author: | Anthony Spalinger |
| Illustrator: | Marco Capparoni |
| Publisher: | Osprey Publishing an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 96 pages |
| Series: | Campaign |
| Genres: |
Ancient warfare |
An illustrated look at Ancient Egypt and one of the earliest recorded battles that put a stop to Ramesses II's drive into Syria.In c. 1286 BC, Ramesses II was pharaoh and commander of the Egyptian army. He led an expedition northwards from the eastern delta, through Palestine, and aimed for the city of Kadesh, which was currently in the hands of the Hittites. What Ramesses did not expect was that the Hittites' leader, King Muwatallis, was in the city, which made his plans much harder. Meeting in battle at the Orontes River in southern Syria, it was the largest clash of chariots ever seen. The Hittites proved to be formidable opponents, managing to slice through the second division of the Egyptian army with a targeted chariot attack. In the end, the Hittites were forced to retreat but the Egyptians also failed to capture Kadesh and had to withdraw out of Syria.In this detailed volume, Egyptologist Anthony Spalinger explores the history of the Egyptians and Hittites, looking at how they fought and how Kadesh came to be considered one of the most decisive battles of the ancient world. With stunning artwork, maps, diagrams and images of carvings from multiple temples, Ancient Egypt is brought to life, showcasing one of the earliest recorded set-piece battles.
Kadesh 1286 BC features in the following genres: Ancient warfare
Kadesh 1286 BC is available in Paperback
Kadesh 1286 BC was written by Anthony Spalinger and published by Osprey Publishing an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
Kadesh 1286 BC has 96 pages
Yes it is part of Campaign series
£15.29