Ramesses II

Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. His reign, spanning from approximately 1279 to 1213 BC during the New Kingdom period, is often regarded as the most celebrated and powerful era of Ancient Egypt. He is renowned for his extensive military campaigns, monumental building programs across Egypt and Nubia, and his exceptionally long rule, which solidified his legacy as one of Egypt's most iconic rulers.

Early life and accession

Born to Pharaoh Seti I and Queen Tuya, he was named after his grandfather, Ramesses I, the founder of their royal dynasty. As a prince, he was immersed in royal duties from a young age, accompanying his father on military expeditions to regions like Canaan and Libya to gain experience in warfare and statecraft. He was elevated to the role of coregent with Seti I in his early teens, ensuring a smooth transition of power. Following the death of Seti I, he ascended to the throne as the sole ruler, inheriting a vast and prosperous empire that stretched from Nubia in the south to the borders of the Hittite Empire in Syria.

Military campaigns

His early reign focused on securing Egypt's frontiers and restoring its influence in the Levant, leading to a major confrontation with the Hittite Empire at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC. Although the battle was tactically indecisive, it was later heavily commemorated in Egyptian propaganda as a great victory, with accounts inscribed on temples at Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum, and Karnak. Subsequent campaigns solidified control over territories in Canaan and Phoenicia. After years of stalemate, he negotiated a landmark peace treaty with Hittite King Hattusili III, one of the oldest known surviving international peace accords, which was later cemented by his marriage to a Hittite princess. He also led campaigns south into Nubia and conducted punitive expeditions against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples along the Mediterranean coast.

Building projects and monuments

His reign was marked by an unprecedented scale of construction, earning him the ancient title "The Great Builder." He commissioned monumental temples throughout Egypt, most famously the rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel in Nubia, dedicated to the gods Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Amun, and to his deified self. In Thebes, he constructed his massive mortuary temple, the Ramesseum, and added significantly to the Temple of Luxor and the Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak. He founded a new capital city in the Nile Delta called Pi-Ramesses, which served as a major military and administrative center. Countless statues, obelisks, and stelae bearing his image and cartouches were erected, from Memphis to Abydos.

Family and children

He had an exceptionally large royal family, with several great royal wives and many concubines. His principal wife and one of his most celebrated consorts was Nefertari, for whom he built a magnificent tomb in the Valley of the Queens. Another important wife was Isetnofret, and later in his reign, he married Maathorneferure, the daughter of Hattusili III. He fathered over 100 children, with many of his sons, including Amun-her-khepeshef, Khaemweset, and Merneptah, holding high priestly and military positions. Khaemweset in particular is remembered as an archaeologist and restorer of ancient monuments. His children were strategically married to foreign princes and nobles to strengthen diplomatic alliances across the empire.

Death, mummy, and legacy

He died around 1213 BC after a reign of approximately 66 years and was originally buried in a grand tomb, KV7, in the Valley of the Kings. Due to widespread tomb robbing in antiquity, his mummy, along with those of other New Kingdom pharaohs like Seti I and Thutmose III, was later moved to a secret cache at Deir el-Bahari, where it was discovered in 1881. The mummy, now housed in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, shows he suffered from severe arthritis and dental issues in old age. His legacy endured for centuries; he was venerated as a god in later periods, and later pharaohs, such as those of the Twentieth Dynasty, sought to emulate his achievements. In modern times, his monuments, especially Abu Simbel, continue to be iconic symbols of Ancient Egypt's grandeur.