Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty

Impact

The Ramses II–Hattusilis III alliance ended eight decades of warfare between the two ancient superpowers of Egypt and Hatti. Although the treaty never mentions borders, Egypt must have conceded the loss of its former vassal kingdoms Amurru and Kadesh. The two empires never fought again and remained allies. Ramses II married two of Hattusilis III's daughters, the first fourteen years after the treaty was concluded.

The two royal families proceeded to exchange over one hundred diplomatic letters, addressing each other as “my brother” and their queens as “my sister.” Each new message came with lavish gifts of gold, fine cloth, and even medical supplies. Egyptian doctors were sent to treat the Hittite royal family's illnesses. But the letters also betray friction in their relations. The pharaoh's tone is arrogant, while Hattusilis often complains. They squabble over the fate of Urhi-Teshub, who remained in Egypt despite the extradition clause in the treaty. The two kings even argue over what had really happened at the Battle of Kadesh so many years earlier. Ramses proposes a summit meeting in Egyptian territory, but Hattusilis makes excuses, fearing that he would be humiliated by Egyptian propaganda.

The peace held for several decades. Ramses II's heir, Merenptah, shipped boatloads of grain to alleviate famine in Hatti—history's first recorded example of foreign aid. But the Egyptians could not help their allies when the Hittite Empire was destroyed by famine, civil war, and foreign invasion around 1200 BCE. When Hatti fell, the treaty was null and void.