Having resecured the loyalty of the Arzawa states, Muwatallis went to war with Egypt, which was then under the rule the Pharaoh Ramses II. Ramses was anxious to retake the Hittite cities in Syria that had formerly been under Egyptian control. In 1275 BCE, Muwatallis assembled an enormous army and lay in wait for the Egyptians behind the city of Kadesh. As the Egyptians entered the city from the south, the Hittite army took them by surprise. What followed was one of the greatest battles of ancient history, which is said to have involved around 5,000 chariots. Initially, the Hittites had the upper hand, but the late arrival of reinforcements helped the Egyptians drive their enemies back. Ramses claimed victory, but it seems more likely that the battle ended in a stalemate. In any case, the Hittites remained in control of Syria.
Hattusilis III (ruled c. 1275—1250 BCE) concluded peace treaties with both Egypt and Babylon. The treaty with Egypt was sealed by the marriage of a Hittite princess to Ramses. For a time, the Hittite Empire enjoyed an unparalleled period of peace and prosperity, but in the second half of the 13th century, it was threatened by the growing power of the Assyrian Empire to the east. In the west, meanwhile, warrior races known as the Sea Peoples were threatening the coast of Anatolia. It is thought that thee
World History
