Who is Ramses 2 ?

Ramses II, the third king of the 19th dynasty of Ancient Egypt, lived in the 13th century BC and holds an important place in the history of Ancient Egypt with his 67-year reign.

Ramses, who succeeded his father Seti I, left his mark on history with the important events and works of his reign.

1. Egyptian Campaigns in Syria and Palestine


Early in the reign of Ramses II, following the failures of his father Seti, he campaigned in Palestine and southern Syria to regain control of a number of rebel princes. His efforts to retake Hittite-controlled territories led to a series of battles at Kadesh in the north. However, the expected victory at the Battle of Kadesh was not achieved, which was considered a strategic failure.

2. The Double Immigration Experience and the Kingdom of Asia


Ramses II's father Seti had given him a special status as crown prince at a young age. At the age of 10, Ramses achieved a high rank in the army and accompanied his father on campaigns. This experience gave him knowledge in both administration and warfare. Following in Seti's footsteps, Ramses tried to strengthen the kingdoms in Asia, but was unable to hold on to them for long.

3. Building Activities and Temples


Ramses II spearheaded numerous building activities during his reign. In the Nile river delta, he built a full-scale residential city, which he named Per Ramessu. It was also used as a convenient base for campaigns in Asia. This city included temples dedicated to different gods in each of its four quarters.
Ramses' building activities included completing the great hypostyle hall at Karnak, finishing the funerary temple at Luxor and building huge temples at Abu Simbel. He also continued the work begun by his father Seti on the temple at Abydos.

4. Diplomacy and Peace Period

After the wars, Ramses II focused on recapturing lost provinces, which negatively affected Egypt's prestige abroad. After 16 years of conflict with the Hittites, a peace treaty was signed to restore balance between the two powers. Diplomatic relations were established, letters were written and marriages with the ruler's daughters took place.

5. Personal Life and Legacy


Although little is known about the personal life of Ramses II, his favorite queen was Nefertari. After his death, he is known to have had a series of queens and hundreds of children. Future generations of Egyptians saw Ramses II as a great king and it was considered a privilege to be his descendant.
As a result, the reign of Ramses II represents one of the peak periods of Ancient Egypt. He was renowned for both his military achievements and his reconstruction activities, elevating Egypt's imperial power and ensuring periods of peace. The legacy of Ramses II remains an unforgettable page in Egypt's history.

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