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The Majestic Reign of Ramses II: Egypt’s Eternal Pharaoh
King Ramesses II, son of King Seti I, stands as one of the most powerful and celebrated rulers in ancient history. He was the third pharaoh to ascend the throne during the prolific 19th Dynasty (1292–1191 BC). His reign, lasting from 1279 to 1213 BC, was the second longest in the history of ancient Egypt.
This period, particularly the thirteenth century BC, is often referred to as the Century of Prosperity, directly attributable to the stability and wealth achieved under Ramesses II’s exceptional leadership. He was a formidable military commander, leading his armies in significant wars against the powerful Hittites and the Libyans. Ramesses II left an indelible mark on the landscape of Egypt, commissioning and constructing numerous huge temples and magnificent statues across the entire nation.
Unveiling Ramses II
King Ramesses II hailed from a family whose origins were not royal, ascending the throne decades after the radical religious rule of King Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV, c. 1353–1336 BC). The previous pharaohs, including Akhenaten and his successor, Tutankhamun, had overseen a decline in Egypt’s influence in Asia.
Ramesses’ father, King Seti I, a highly capable military ruler, began the process of restoration by launching numerous campaigns. He successfully subdued rebellious princes in Palestine and southern Syria and waged war against the powerful Hittites of Anatolia. King Seti aimed to recover provinces lost to the Hittites, though his victories were ultimately temporary. The Hittites managed to establish an impregnable stronghold at Kadesh, on the Orontes River, imposing control over their southern border, a challenge Ramesses II would inherit.
Grooming the Young King: Military Training and Succession
King Seti I meticulously groomed his son, Ramesses, for future kingship. From a very young age, Ramesses was given exceptional status as a regent, enjoying a fully royal life complete with a large household and harem. Crucially, he constantly accompanied his father on military campaigns.
This preparation ensured that by the time Ramesses II took power, he was already an experienced and knowledgeable military leader. At the age of ten, he was granted the rank of captain in the army, a largely honorary title at such a young age, but one that symbolized his destiny and involvement in serious military training.
Founding the Strategic Capital: Per-Ramesses
Born and raised in the fertile Nile River Delta, Ramesses II strategically chose to build a massive, new royal residence city known as Per-Ramesses (“House of Ramesses,” the biblical Raamses) as a forward base for his campaigns in Asia.
This magnificent city was renowned for its beautiful layout, vast gardens, and canals. It was designed as a potent military-industrial complex, featuring huge temples dedicated to four presiding deities, each placed at a cardinal direction:
West: Amun
East: The Syrian goddess Astarte
North: The royal cobra goddess, Wadjet
South: Set
Ramesses’ evident inclination toward spiritual and divinity matters was highlighted by the flourishing of Asian gods within his cosmopolitan new capital.
Spiritual Duty and Architectural Dedication
Upon ascending to sole rule, Ramesses II‘s first major public act underscored his strong religious devotion. He immediately visited Thebes, the spiritual capital, to attend the magnificent Opet Festival, the sacred celebration where the god Amun of Karnak traveled to the Temple of Luxor.
During his return journey north, King Ramesses II stopped at Abydos to pay homage to the god Osiris and to ensure the completion of his father’s magnificent great temple there, which had been left unfinished upon King Seti I‘s death. This dedication to ancestral projects and religious ritual reinforced his legitimacy and piety to the Egyptian people.
Birth and Reign:King Ramesses II was born around 1303 BCE during the prolific 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom era. He enjoyed one of the longest reigns in history, ruling for approximately 66 years, from 1279 to 1213 BCE. He earned the grand title of “ruler of rulers” for his exceptional long-term stability.
Ramses II’s Birth
How long did Ramses II rule?
He enjoyed one of the longest reigns in history, ruling for approximately 66 years, from 1279 to 1213 BCE. He earned the grand title of “ruler of rulers” for his exceptional long-term stability.
The Reign of Ramses II
King Ramses II and his wife Nefertari
His most famous wife was Nefertari, renowned for her exquisite tomb in the Valley of the Queens. Although the tomb was sadly robbed in antiquity, important artifacts were recovered when the chamber was unearthed.
Ramses II and Queen Nefertari
King Ramses II and his Family
Ramesses II was a true dynastic figure, fathering an astonishing number of children—approximately 162 in total. Notable offspring included Amun-her-khepeshef (Nefertari’s firstborn), Ramesses, Meritamen, Merneptah, Nebettawy, and Khaemweset.
The Battle of Kadesh
Determined to continue the restoration work begun by his father, King Seti I, Ramesses II initiated a massive military campaign to reclaim lost Egyptian provinces in Syria and seize the strategic city of Kadesh, which was under Hittite control. This ambition led to the Battle of Kadesh (1275 BC), which remains famous as the largest chariot battle ever recorded.
Epic Battle of Kadesh
The Confrontation and Deception
The battle took place near the Orontes River, southwest of Homs, Syria. Ramesses II commanded an army of roughly 20,000 infantry and 2,000 chariots, facing a formidable Hittite force of 40,000 soldiers and 3,000 chariots led by Prince Muwatallis.
The battle opened with a stunning strategic deception: the Hittites placed false deserters on the road who misled Ramesses into believing the main Hittite army was far away. Convinced, Ramesses advanced his divisions, creating a massive gap between himself and the rest of his troops.
Turning the Tide: From Defeat to Draw
The Hittites immediately launched a rapid, overwhelming charge. Their heavy, three-horse chariots smashed into the advancing Egyptian division, causing mass chaos. Sensing inevitable victory, however, the Hittites abandoned their military discipline and began to plunder the scattered Egyptian camp. Ramesses seized this critical opportunity, bravely reorganized his remaining soldiers, and mounted a furious counter-attack. The lighter, more maneuverable Egyptian chariots proved superior in the ensuing close-quarters combat.
Though the initial assault was a massacre, Ramesses managed to erase the defeat and achieve an honorable draw. Both sides initially claimed total victory and decorated temples with triumphant inscriptions. Yet, the truth was not decisive. After fifteen years of continued, low-intensity conflict, the two superpowers negotiated and ratified a permanent alliance, resulting in the registration of the first recorded peace treaty in world history.
The First Peace Treaty in History
Following years of conflict, King Ramesses II achieved a landmark diplomatic victory. In 1258 BC, he formally proposed and signed one of the world’s first peace agreements with the rival Hittite Empire. This act secured his unique place in history as the first sovereign ruler known to have ratified a comprehensive international peace treaty.
Historic Peace Treaty
The Heb-Sed Festivals
Heb-Sed Festivals
The Heb-Sed Festival was an ancient jubilee traditionally held to reaffirm and celebrate the pharaoh’s continuing power and physical vitality. Ramesses II was only the second Egyptian monarch to survive and reign long enough to join this exclusive group of rulers. Beginning in his thirty-first year on the throne, he celebrated the Heb-Sed—and continued to repeat it throughout his unprecedentedly long reign.
Ramses II’s Legacy
King Ramesses II strategically employed magnificent architecture to project his image of greatness, resulting in one of the most visible legacies in Egypt.
Ramses II Legacy
The Great Temple of Abu Simbel: He built the renowned temple of Abu Simbel, putting four colossal, seated statues of himself—each over 60 feet tall—at its entrance. These statues served a dual purpose: demonstrating his divine status and acting as symbolic guardians of the sanctuary. The interior extends 185 feet into the rock, featuring detailed engravings and reliefs that memorialize his defining moments, particularly the Battle of Kadesh.
Nefertari’s Tomb and Temple: Ramesses II also commissioned a smaller, equally magnificent temple near the great one for his favorite wife, Nefertari. The exquisite tomb of his beloved wife, Queen Nefertiti (known as Nefertari in her time), remains a masterpiece in the Valley of the Queens.
Monument Restoration: To claim continuity with the past and expand his inheritance, Ramesses II restored the ancient Luxor Temple and decorated it with colossal sculptures and reliefs detailing his campaigns. He also made vast donations to the sprawling Karnak temple complex and inscribed his royal cartouche on countless existing monuments throughout Egypt.
Colossal Statues: Further cementing his legacy was the erection of an enormous statue of himself near the capital, Memphis (close to modern Cairo).
What were Ramses II’s accomplishments and achievements?
The long reign of King Ramesses II was defined by a massive surge in both military strength and architectural production, cementing his legacy as “Ramesses the Great.” His numerous accomplishments include:
Military Dominance: He oversaw successful and decisive military operations against a variety of formidable adversaries, including the Nubians (securing Egypt’s southern border) and the powerful Hittites (resulting in the world’s first peace treaty).
Monumental Construction: He commissioned and completed astonishing architectural feats, such as the colossal Abu Simbel temples, his celebrated memorial temple, the Ramesseum, and his mortuary temple complex in Thebes.
Restoration and Expansion: He personally restored the ancient Luxor Temple, enhancing it with huge sculptures and magnificent reliefs that chronicled his life and military campaigns.
What is the connection between Ramses II and Moses?
The famous biblical narrative of the Exodus, in which Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, is widely associated with King Ramesses II.
However, the exact link between Moses and Ramesses II is a subject of continuous debate among historical experts. The Bible itself refers only to an unnamed Pharaoh during the events of the Exodus. Despite this lack of specific naming, Ramesses II is the most commonly suggested and popular candidate for the Pharaoh of the Exodus due to his prominent and influential rule during the thirteenth century BCE, the historical period most often cited for the event. This connection, while not confirmed by Egyptian records, is a key reason for the Pharaoh’s enduring global fame.
Ramses II and Moses
Did Ramses II die in the Red Sea?
No, King Ramesses II did not die in the Red Sea.
This widespread belief is a popular misunderstanding rooted in the biblical narrative of the Exodus. In that account, the Pharaoh’s army perishes as the waters of the Red Sea collapse around them. However, historical and archaeological evidence conclusively refutes the claim that Ramesses II was the Pharaoh who drowned.
For one, scientific study of his well-preserved mummy found in the Royal Cache in 1881, confirms his body was recovered and mummified according to the elaborate rites of the 19th Dynasty. His original sarcophagus was recently identified, further confirming his proper burial in Egypt.
The Real Death of Ramesses II
The ancient Egyptian scholar Manetho (3rd century BC) recorded that Ramesses II ruled for an extraordinary 66 years and two months.
Modern forensic analysis of his mummy strongly supports the view that he died of extreme old age, reaching approximately 90 or 91 years old—a remarkable longevity for the ancient world. Scientific studies have revealed the various ailments that contributed to his passing, which included:
Severe Dental Problems: He suffered from terrible dental abscesses, including a particularly painful one at the root of his molar.
Arthritis and Skeletal Issues: He displayed advanced signs of arthritis and diffused idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, which likely left him crippled and hunched in his final years.
Atherosclerosis: Evidence of hardening of the arteries was also noted.
While the exact cause of death cannot be definitively stated (as the lungs, which would hold evidence of drowning, were removed during mummification), the overwhelming evidence points to a passing due to the compounded effects of advanced age and related illnesses, likely in his capital, Pi-Ramesses, not the Red Sea.
Ramses II’s Passing
Where was King Rameses II buried?
The initial burial site for King Ramesses II was the impressive tomb KV7 in the Valley of the Kings. He also prepared a spectacular burial chamber within the tomb of his beloved wife, Queen Nefertari. However, due to the rampant tomb raiding prevalent in antiquity, his royal mummy was subsequently moved by priests to a series of unidentified, covert locations to ensure its protection from robbers.
Rediscovery and Modern Journey
The mummy was eventually rediscovered in 1881 in a secret collective burial place known as the Royal Cachet (DB320) at Deir el-Bahri, alongside the remains of numerous other New Kingdom pharaohs.
Following its unearthing, the mummy of the great king was transported to the Cairo Egyptian Museum in 1885 where it was housed for decades. More recently, in a grand historical procession, Ramesses II was moved to its current, permanent home: the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).
