What made pharaoh Ramses II 'the Great'?

Ramses II was one of the most powerful and impressive pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

He ruled for an incredible 66 years, and during his reign he accomplished many amazing feats.

Ramses II was born in 1303 BCE, into a royal family that was already quite powerful.

His father, Seti I, was a great military leader who had conquered many lands during his reign. 

However, Egypt was losing some territories to the Hittite empire. Egypt had lost many vital trade centers in Syria and Canaan during the reign of the Hittite king, Suppiluliuma I, according to Hittite sources. Seti I recovered Kadesh in Syria, but then lost it again to Muwatalli II of the Hittites.

When Seti I died in 1279 BCE, Ramses II was only about 20 years old. He succeeded his father to the throne and became Pharaoh of Egypt.

During his early reign, Ramses II faced many challenges. There were rebellions in Canaan and Libya.

The Hittites were also a constant threat, as they continued to try and expand their empire. In order to protect Egypt's borders, Ramses II needed to build up his army.

He did this by conscripting soldiers from all over Egypt and training them to be loyal and disciplined soldiers.

Ramses II also formed alliances with other countries in the region, such as Babylon and Assyria.

These alliances allowed him to have a stronger military force that could better protect Egypt's borders.

In his second year on the throne, Ramesses routed the Sea Peoples off the coast of Egypt's Nile Delta.

These were referred to as the Sherdan, according to Ramesses' account. Ramesses lured them in with a tiny naval force stationed at the mouth of the Nile and then launched his full assault from both sides, sinking their vessels.

Ramses II followed in his father's footsteps and became an even greater leader than him.

Ramses II continued to expand Egypt's territory by leading successful campaigns against other neighboring kingdoms. 

He began his reign by leading a successful campaign against the Hittites, one of Egypt's greatest enemies.

His most famous battle was the one fought against the Hittites at Kadesh in 1274 BCE. The battle was a victory for Ramses II, but it was not a decisive one.

After the battle, Ramses II and the Hittite king, Muwatalli II, made a peace treaty. This treaty was beneficial for both sides, as it allowed them to focus on other enemies.

Ramses II also had many other military successes throughout his reign. He led campaigns against the Libyans and Nubians, expanding Egypt's territory even further.

He also conquered new lands in Syria and Canaan, which allowed Egypt to control vital trade routes.

In addition to being a great military leader, Ramses II was also responsible for many construction projects.

He built temples, palaces, and monuments all over Egypt, which can still be seen in Egypt today. 

One of his most famous construction projects was the temple at Abu Simbel at the southern border of Egyptian territory.

This temple was built in honor of Ramses II's gods, Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty. It is an impressive structure that is still standing today. 

At Thebes, Ramses built his own mortuary temple, known as the Ramesseum. This temple was built to honor Ramses II after his death. It is a large and imposing structure, with many statues and reliefs of Ramses II.

At the eastern edge of the Nile Delta, Ramses also built a brand-new city called Per-Ramesses (meaning 'House of Ramses').

This city was the new capital of Egypt, and it was here that Ramses II built his palace.

The city was full of temples, palaces, and gardens, and it was a beautiful sight. It was primarily intended to be a location from where Ramses could launch large military campaigns.

Ramses II was not only a great military leader and builder, but he was also a family man. He married many wives, but his favorite wife was Nefertari.

The two of them had many children together

Ramses II loved Nefertari very much, and she had a great influence on him. She accompanied him on many of his military campaigns, and she even helped him to rule Egypt when he was away.

Upon Nefertari's death, Ramses II was so grief-stricken that he had a temple built in her honor. 

Ramses II ruled Egypt for over 60 years, longer than any other Pharaoh in history. He was a great military leader, builder, and family man.

He died at the age of 90, after a long and successful reign. Upon his death in around 1213 BC, he was buried in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. 

Ramses II was one of the most powerful and impressive pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

He expanded Egypt's territory by leading successful military campaigns, and he also left a lasting legacy through his construction projects.

Today, Ramses II is still remembered as one of the greatest leaders in Egyptian history.

Ramses' mummy was found in 1881 and is currently on display in the Cairo Museum.

The mummy of Ramses reveals that he was tall, with a strong, projecting jaw, a thin nose and thick lips.

He had dental issues, severe arthritis, and hardened arteries. His most likely cause of death was old age or heart failure.