KADESH

''This article is about Kadesh in Syria, see also Kadesh (South of Israel) or Kedesh''
'Kadesh', (semitic root qds); aka, Qadesh, Kedesh, Kodesh was a sanctuary city on the border of retnu and the djadi; also the tribal territories of Zephtali and Dan and the regional territories of Amon, Aram and the Amurru; in the mountains where the Goalan heights mark the juncture of modern Lebanon, the Levant, Syria, and Canaan; located in the watershed between the headwaters of the Orontes River, the Jordan River and the Litanni River. Other large nearby cities included Hazor, Damascus, Beth Shean, Yenoam, Tyre, Sideon, Byblus, Beiruit.

Contents

History

Battle of Kadesh

Footnotes

History

The Cities of Kadesh (Kadesh means- holy fire, flame) and Megiddo led a coalition of tribes opposing the conquest of Upper Retenu by Thutmose III. Kadesh Akkadian language Amarna letters) Qidshu and the Mittani, acted as vassals of Hatti Egypt's primary foreign rival in control of the Levant. Defeat in the subsequent Battle of Megiddo led an ongoing and continuous battle for control of southern Lebanon and Syria as well as northern Canaan that lasted throughout the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt and well into the Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt. Correspondence between the ruler of Kadesh and the pharaoh Akhenaten is preserved amongst the Amarna letters. The names of three kings of Kadesh survive from contemporary sources: Suttarna (fl. c. 1350 BC); Etakkama (c. 1340s) and Ari-Teshub (fl. c. 1330-1325).
The city is best known, however, as the location of one of the best documented battles of the ancient world, the Battle of Kadesh, staged between the superpowers of the 13th century BC: the Egyptian and the Hittite Empires. An Egyptian vassal for approximately 150 years, Kadesh eventually defected to Hittite suzerainty, thereby placing the city on the contested frontier between the two rival empires. In response to this Hittite ascendancy and expansion southwards, the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II prepared an aggressive military response. The subsequent battle, fought near Kadesh, very nearly witnessed an Egyptian military disaster. Ramesses II was able to recover the initiative, however, and the two armies withdrew in stalemate, both claiming victory. Kadesh, however, remained under Hittite overlordship.

Battle of Kadesh

Now His Majesty had made ready his infantry and his chariotry, and the Sherden of His Majesty's capturing whom he had brought back by the victory of his strong arm; supplied with all their weapons, and the plan of fighting having been given to them. His Majesty journeyed northward, his infantry and his chariotry with him, and he made a good beginning upon the march in Year 5, second month of the summer season, day 9. His majesty passed the fortress of Tjel, being powerful like Mont in his going forth, all foreign countries trembling before him and their chiefs bringing their gifts, all those who were disaffected being come bowing down through fear of His Majesty's might. His army went along the narrow defiles like one which is upon the roads of Egypt. Now when days had passed over these things His Majesty was in Ra`messe-miamun, the town which is in the Valley of the Cedar. And His Majesty proceeded northward. But when His Majesty had reached 'the hill country of Kadesh', then His Majesty went ahead like Mont, the lord of Thebes,and he crossed the ford of the `rnt'1) with the first army of Amun-gives-victory-to- Usima`re-setpenre`.
His Majesty arrived at the town of Kadesh, and now the wretched Fallen one of Kadesh was come and had collected together all the foreign countries as far as the end of the sea; the entire land of Khatti was come, that of Nahrin likewise, that of Arzawa, Dardany, that of Karkisha, Luka, Kizzuwadna, Carchemish, Ugarit, Kedy, the entire land of Nukhashshe, Mushanet, Kadesh; he left no foreign country not to bring it of every distant land, their chiefs there with him; every man with his infantry and their chariotry exceeding many, without limit of the like of them. They covered mountains and valleys and they were like the locust by reason of their multitude. He left no silver in his land, he stripped it of all its possessions and gave them to all the foreign countries in order to bring them with him to fight.

The subsequent impasse between Egypt and Hatti ultimately led to what is now recognised as one of the earliest surviving international peace treaties, concluded several decades later between Ramesses II and his Hittite counterpart, Hattusili III.

Footnotes