Ramesses II: The Pharaoh Who Ruled Egypt for 67 Years

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For over six decades in the 13th century BCE, the mighty pharaoh Ramesses II presided over one of the most consequential reigns in ancient Egyptian history. Ruling from 1279 to 1213 BCE, Ramesses II’s 67 years as king was an extraordinarily long period of rule that allowed him to dramatically shape and expand Egypt’s borders, economy, architecture, and identity.

While today he is remembered for his extensive monumental building programs and the fabled Battle of Kadesh against the Hittite Empire, Ramesses II oversaw the last true golden era of unchallenged Egyptian imperial dominance and artistic glory before a gradual decline set in after his death. In an age of mighty warrior-pharaohs, Ramesses the Great proved himself Egypt’s most imposing ruler in both wartime conquest and re-molding of the kingdom in his own grandiose vision.

Early Life and Ascension

Ramesses II, born to Seti I and Queen Tuya around 1303 BCE, was destined for the throne from his earliest days. Raised in the opulent royal court of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty, his upbringing was steeped in the traditions of the New Kingdom’s nobility. His comprehensive education covered the rigorous military training befitting a future warrior-pharaoh and the finer points of religion, governance, and the arts.

At the young age of 14, his father appointed Ramesses as regent. This was a period when Egypt was at the height of its power, and the role of the regent ensured a seamless transition of authority.

Seti provided Ramesses with a kingly household and harem, and the young prince was a constant presence by his father’s side on military campaigns. This early exposure to the responsibilities of kingship and the realities of war was invaluable, laying the groundwork for his eventual rule.

Upon Seti’s death in 1279 BCE, Ramesses II ascended to the throne. He was 25. His ascent wasn’t without its challenges; the early years of his reign were marred by revolts and internal strife as rivals sought to exploit the transition of power.

Ramesses swiftly and decisively quashed these threats, showing a ruthlessness that solidified his position as the undisputed ruler of the Two Lands. His subsequent reign would be marked by military triumphs, monumental building projects, and a cultural renaissance that cemented his legacy as Ramesses the Great.

The Battle of Kadesh

With domestic affairs settled, Ramesses turned his sights on foreign conquest and glory – fixating on lands in modern-day Syria and Lebanon, which the Egyptians regarded as their traditional sphere of influence and economic importance. This put Egypt on a direct collision course with the neighboring Hittite Empire based in Anatolia (modern Turkey), which had ambitions to claim the same territories for itself.

In 1274 BCE, the fifth year of his reign, Ramesses marched his armies north to confront the Hittites near the vital trading city of Kadesh on the Orontes River. However, Ramesses’ forward forces became overextended at Kadesh, falling into a well-executed Hittite trap that initially allowed their chariot forces to surround and isolate the Egyptian vanguard.

Only through his courageous leadership and brilliant battlefield maneuvers did Ramesses II manage to rally his troops and slowly turn the tide. The two-front battle – believed to be one of the largest chariot battles in history – ended in a tactical stalemate as reinforcements arrived.

Despite the indecisive outcome, Ramesses proclaimed Kadesh an inspirational victory while negotiating a favorable regional settlement with the Hittites. The cogs of diplomacy turned slowly, but eventually, the treaty of Kadesh was signed in 1258 BCE – and is believed to be the world’s first peace treaty. Ramesses cemented its legacy with inscriptions and artworks depicting his version of events.

Monumental Construction

Ramesses II invested Egypt’s vast state resources and labor forces into breathtaking construction projects throughout his reign. These were designed to enshrine himself among antiquity’s most sumptuously celebrated leaders. Across major cities like, Thebes, Abydos, and Memphis, Ramesses built on a scale unseen since the peak of the pyramid age – commissioning massive temples, monuments, and statuary.

Ramesses II built the city of Pi-Ramesses from scratch. The city was constructed in the Nile Delta and served as the new capital during his reign. It was built near the site of the ancient city of Avaris, the capital of the Hyksos, which Ramesses used to his advantage, associating his new capital with the legendary city for added prestige. 

Pi-Ramesses became a bustling metropolis and the main seat of power during Ramesses II’s reign, reflecting the Pharaoh’s grandeur and the empire’s wealth. The construction of Pi-Ramesses started early in his reign and continued to develop over the years into a significant urban center.

At Karnak and Luxor, he expanded the sprawling temple complexes with his own additions in a building frenzy spanning 20 years. The Ramesseum mortuary temple at Thebes combined a vast scale with exquisite craftsmanship as one of his signature creations. Perhaps his most awe-inspiring architectural feat was the colossal twin rock-carved temple facade at Abu Simbel, carved with his own titanic 65-foot high seated statute and commemorations of his military triumphs.

Ramesses wanted his monuments to symbolize his strong rule and endurance, inspiring future generations with their impressive size and unwavering presence. Ever conscious of his legacy, he commonly reused or appropriated older edifices and obelisks of previous pharaohs like Hatshepsut, re-carving them with his own dedication inscriptions.

Domestic Policies and Family

While Ramesses revered the traditional symbols and ideologies of Egypt’s majestic theocratic past, he was not entirely beholden to its conventions. He oversaw a significant consolidation of wealth and administrative power in the hands of the crown. This came at the expense of powers held by the priesthoods and nobility.

He changed Egypt’s polytheistic religious focus back to worshipping Amun as the main god instead of the more monotheistic Aten cult supported by his 18th Dynasty predecessor, Akhenaten. While not eradicating the Aten cult entirely, this allowed Ramesses to embrace Egypt’s ancestral gods and position himself as their true living representative.

Ramesses II also differed from customs by openly flaunting his polygamous marriage to over 200 wives and concubines, taking full advantage of his absolutist status. The most prominent was Nefertari, who played a major role in state affairs until her death, while several sons like Khaemweset and Merneptah jockeyed intensely to position themselves as the crown prince and heir apparent over the decades.

Military Campaigns and Empire

Following Kadesh, Ramesses II solidified Egypt’s imperial control far beyond its traditional borders. He secured long-coveted trade routes and resource-rich territories in Nubia, Canaan, and along the Mediterranean coast. These southern and northern conquered lands allowed Ramesses to monopolize control over valuable export goods and commercial traffic flows that fueled his kingdom’s prosperity.

The far-flung extent of his empire necessitated frequent military campaigns like his repeated invasions of modern Israel/Palestine to reassert Egyptian hegemony.

Across his vast domains, the prolific Ramesses dedicated countless monuments – both grand architectural statements and minor regional shrines, temples, and colossal statuary – to immortalize and advertise his martial achievements and glory. As he pushed into his 90s, however, Ramesses took a more measured approach to expanding Egypt’s borders further and securing his legacy.

Death and Legacy

As Ramesses II advanced well into his 80s and 90s – without parallel for a pharaoh – he devoted many years to constructing and outfitting his tomb in the famous Valley of the Kings necropolis. It would eventually take the form of a lavishly decorated and furnished hypogeum featuring numerous corridors, annexes, and burial chambers intended to facilitate his quest for eternal life.

After reigning for an incredible 67 years, Ramesses II finally died around age 90. His mummified remains have allowed concrete identification, proving his claim to be one of the longest-reigning leaders in global antiquity.

For over a millennium after his death, Ramesses the Great was revered by later rulers and ordinary Egyptians alike as the quintessential warrior-king and exemplar of pharaonic majesty. His reign was associated with Egyptian military supremacy, artistic glory, and unmatched royal grandeur on an enormous scale – both in conquest and his physical remolding of the kingdom itself.

The Tomb Of Ramesses the Great

KV7, the seventh burial site to be identified in the Valley of the Kings, was discovered by archaeologists in 1881. Upon his death, Ramesses II was interred in this tomb, but due to looting and flooding over time, his body was later moved to a royal cache. Today, the mummy of Ramesses II is displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

The discovery and excavation of Ramesses II’s tomb and the subsequent findings have provided invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices, the royal family, and the period’s art and architecture. The ongoing archaeological work continues to uncover more about the life and death of one of Egypt’s most legendary pharaohs.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While Egypt’s decline from a unified imperial power began quickly after his passing, the towering statues and architectural megaliths from Ramesses II’s reign have ensured his lasting legacy. He was seen as a semi-divine ruler who propelled Egypt to its apex of prosperity and power. Both the audacious warrior vanquishing all enemies and the supreme monarch etching his name into eternity through stone, Ramesses the Great’s remarkably long reign cemented his immortality and mythic resonance for all future kings of the Blackland.

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