KADESH TREATY

The treaty of Kadesh is the earliest known parity peace-treaty that had been concluded between the Hittite king Hattusilis III and the Egyptian pharah Ramses II, and was written in Akkadian: the international language of the day, in 1269 B.C. Three main versions of the treaty written in Akkadian language is known to exist. Of the treaty-documents of Kadesh discovered at the (capital city) Bogazkoy-Buyukkale in 1906 by Hugo Winckler and Teodor Makridy as a result of a joint expedition of Turkey and Germany, one of them presently is in Berlin and two of them are in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

The Egyptian version was carved upon the walls of the temple of Amon at Karnak and of the Ramesseum edited to give greater prominence to the role of Egypt in granting peace. The Hittite version was much closer to the text formerly agreed upon.

The reign of Ramses II began in hostility against the Hittite Empire. However, by this both powers were ready to conclude a treaty, so that they might turn their attention to other prosiems, such as the encroachment of the 'Sea Peoples' and therefore the offensive and the defensive alliance was set forth.

Some parts of the treaty follows as:

''Treaty of Rea-Mashesha-Mai Amana the great king, the king of the land of Egypt, the valiant, with Hattusilis, the great king of the Hatti land for establishing good peace and good brotherhood worthy of great kingship forever. These are the words of Rea-Mashesha-Mai Amana: Now I have established good brotherhood and good peace between us forever. In order to establish good peace and good brotherhood in the relationship of the land of Egypt with the Hatti land forever.

( I speak )thus: Behold, as for the relationship between the land of Egypt and the Hatti land, since eternity the god does not permit the making of hostility between them because of a ( valid ) treaty forever.''

''If an enemy from abroad comes against the land of Egypt and Rea-Mashesha-Mai Amana, the king of the land of Egypt, your brother sends to Hattusilis, the great king of the Hatti land, his brother saying: '' come here to help me against him-lo Hattusilis, the king of the Hatti land shall send his footsoldiers and his charioteers and, shall slay the enemies. ''

Kadesh Treaty