Ramesses II (1304 - 1237 BC), Ramses II (1304-1237 f Kr)

19th Dynasty, New Kingdom
During his more than 66 years on the throne, Ramesses II managed to lead several military campaigns. The battle of Kadesh between the Egyptian and Hittite forces is one of the most famous in antiquity. The army of Ramesses II narrowly escaped defeat but in Egypt, the battle was hailed as a heroic victory. A peace treaty was later concluded between the two great powers.
However, Egypt had problems with its western neighbours too and Ramesses II commissioned the construction of a number of fortifications to protect the country against Libyan tribes.
Ramesses II is the king who left behind the largest number of monuments. He commissioned the building of temples all over the country from Abu Simbel in the south to Pi- Ramesse in the north. Ramesses II was admired long after his death. No less than nine of his successors took the name of Ramesses. However, none of these so-called Ramessides made nearly as large impression on history as Ramesses II.
During the rule of the last Ramessides, Egypt lost its control over Syria, Palestine and eventually, Nubia. South and north Egypt was divided between two royal families.
The golden age of Pharaonic Egypt had come to an end.

19:e dynastin, Nya riket
Under sina drygt 66 år på tronen hann Ramses II leda flera fälttåg. Slaget mellan egyptiska och hettitiska styrkor vid Kadesh är ett av forntidens mest kända. Ramses II:s armé klarade sig med nöd och näppe, men i Egypten framställdes det som en seger. Senare slöts ett fredsavtal mellan de båda stormakterna.
Även i väster hade Egypten problem med sina grannar och Ramses II lät bygga flera befästningar som skydd mot de libyska stammarna.
Ramses II är den kung som lämnat flest monument efter sig. Han lät bygga tempel i hela landet, från Abu Simbel i söder till Pi-Ramses i norr. Han beundrades långt efter sin död. Inte mindre än nio senare kungar kallade sig Ramses. Ingen av dessa s k ramessider gjorde lika stort avtryck i historien som Ramses II.
Under de sista ramessiderna förlorade Egypten kontrollen över Syrien, Palestina och till slut även Nubien. Landet delades mellan ett kungahus i norr och ett i söder.
Det faraoniska Egyptens storhetstid var slut.