Ramses the Great's Battle of Kadesh Propaganda vs Reality

Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History · Jul 6, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In 1274 BCE, Ramses II led his army against the Hittite coalition at Kadesh, a battle he famously claimed as a personal victory carved into temple walls across Egypt. But what really happened? This episode unpacks the largest chariot battle in ancient history, contrasting Ramses's heroic inscriptions with Hittite accounts and modern archaeology. We explore the strategic blunder of divided forces, the near-capture of the pharaoh, the arrival of the Ne'arin relief troops, and the aftermath that led to the world's first recorded peace treaty. Hosts Lucas and Luna examine how…