Osprey Campaign 22 : Qadesh 1300 BC : Clash of the Warrior Kings

Perhaps history's first great battle (and certainly the first for which there is detailed documentary evidence) it pitted the two great warriors of the age against each other, Muwatallish of Hatti and the great warrior-Pharaoh Rameses II. Egypt's revival under the New Kingdom pharoahs was bound to bring her into conflict with her neighbour and in the event this key battle could have gone either way. With the Hittites gaining the initial advantage by surprising the Egyptians all seemed lost until Rameses himself led his personal followers into the fray throwing back the Hittite chariots. However, in spite of the appearance of Egyptian reinforcements, the bravery of the pharaoh and the tactically superior showing of the Egyptian chariotry, the dislocation of his army dashed the Pharaoh's wider strategic aspirations. It is because of this, in spite of their success in stopping the Hittites destroying their camp at Amun and killing their Pharaoh, that the Egyptians can be seen as having lost the battle of Qadesh. Mark Healy recounts the course of the battle and explains its effect on the political situation of the ancient world. His detailed text is superbly backed up by well chosen illustrations and photographs, including the pictorial reliefs on Egyptian temple walls and photographs of the battlefield as it is today.

Contents

• Introduction
• Rameses II and Muwatallish
• The Opposing Armies
• The Battle of Qadesh
• Aftermath
• Chronology
• A Guide to Further Reading
• Wargaming Qadesh