Latest / Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History / Ramses the Great and the Sherden Pirates
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Ramses' land campaigns—Kadesh, the Libyans, the Hittite diplomacy. But in his second year as pharaoh, before any of that, he faced a threat from an entirely different direction. The sea. Luna: Pirates? Lucas: Exactly. A coalition of raiders called the Sherden. They'd been causing trouble all along the Mediterranean coast, from the Levant down to the Nile Delta. Ramses knew he had to stop them before they became a bigger problem. Lucas: So he set up a naval ambush. He stationed ships and troops at key points along the coast, and when the Sherden fleet appeared, they were caught completely off guard. The battle was a decisive Egyptian victory—many Sherden were killed or captured. Luna: What happened to the captives? Lucas: This is where Ramses showed his strategic genius. Instead of executing them or selling them into slavery, he absorbed them into his own military. The captured Sherden were given land in Egypt and recruited into the pharaoh's personal guard and army. You can see them in later reliefs, wearing their distinctive horned helmets and carrying round shields, fighting for Egypt. Luna: So he turned his enemies into his own soldiers. Lucas: Exactly. It was a bold move, but it paid off. These Sherden warriors were experienced fighters, and they became some of Ramses' most loyal troops. They even fought alongside him at Kadesh a few years later. The inscriptions from the Ramesseum and from Tanis proudly record this victory and the integration of the Sherden into the Egyptian army. Lucas: Now, who exactly were the Sherden? That's a question that's puzzled historians for a long time. They're often linked to the later 'Sea Peoples' who attacked Egypt under Merenptah and Ramses III. But the Sherden appear earlier, and they seem to have been active for several centuries. Luna: So they might be the same as the Shardana mentioned in other records? Lucas: Right, the 'Shardana' appear in the Amarna letters too, as mercenaries serving local rulers in the Levant. And some scholars think they may have come from Sardinia—the name 'Sherden' has been linked to Sardinia, and there's archaeological evidence of connections between the two during the Bronze Age. Lucas: But it's not certain. Other theories point to the Aegean or even Anatolia. What we do know is that they were feared raiders, operating in fast ships, and that Ramses' victory over them was a significant early achievement. Luna: It's interesting that he chose to integrate them rather than destroy them. Lucas: It was practical. Egypt needed manpower, and these were skilled warriors. Plus, by giving them land and a place in society, he ensured their loyalty. It's a pattern we see later with the Romans incorporating barbarian auxiliaries, but Ramses was doing it centuries earlier. Lucas: There's also a personal angle. Ramses was a young pharaoh, probably in his early twenties, when he faced the Sherden. This victory helped establish his reputation as a strong leader before his major campaigns began. It sent a message: Egypt was secure under his rule. Luna: So the Sherden attack actually helped him consolidate power. Lucas: Exactly. And it's a reminder that Ramses wasn't just a builder and a diplomat—he was also a military innovator. Naval warfare wasn't Egypt's strong suit, but he adapted and used it effectively. The ambush shows he could think strategically, not just charge into battle like at Kadesh. Lucas: After the integration, Sherden soldiers appear in Egyptian records for generations. They served in garrisons, on campaigns, and even in the royal bodyguard. Some rose to high positions. It's a fascinating example of cultural and military assimilation. Luna: Do we know how many Sherden were captured? Lucas: The inscriptions don't give exact numbers, but they describe it as a great victory—'the Sherden rebels whom none could fight before' were brought low. The reliefs show hundreds of prisoners. So it was a substantial force. Lucas: One of the most interesting sources is a stela from Tanis, which describes the battle in detail. It says Ramses 'set an ambush for them in the sea' and that they were 'seized and carried off to Egypt.' The language is triumphant, as you'd expect. Luna: It must have been a huge morale boost for the army. Lucas: Absolutely. And it set the tone for Ramses' reign. He was a pharaoh who could protect Egypt from any threat, land or sea. That image lasted for the rest of his 66-year rule. Lucas: So next time you see a relief of Ramses' army with those distinctive horned helmets, you'll know where they came from. The Sherden became a part of Egypt, and their story is a testament to Ramses' adaptability. Luna: It's a great reminder that history isn't just about big battles—it's about how leaders respond to challenges. Lucas: And Ramses responded by turning a threat into an asset. It's one of the reasons he's remembered as Ramses the Great.