Ramses II's Forgotten War Against the Sea Peoples

Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History · Sep 29, 2026 · 9m · transcript

We often think of Ramses II as a builder and diplomat, but his later years were defined by a brutal, overlooked conflict with the confederated maritime raiders known as the Sea Peoples. This episode explores the Battle of Djahy in 1274 BCE, where Ramses faced not just the Hittites, but a shifting coalition of Lukka, Sherden, and Peleset mercenaries who threatened Egypt’s coastal heartland. We look at the reliefs at Medinet Habu, which document this desperate defense and the controversial policy of assimilating these defeated warriors into the Egyptian army. By turning enemies into soldiers…