Thutmose III: Encyclopedia II - Thutmose III - Thutmose's military campaigns

Thutmose III - Thutmose's military campaigns

Widely considered a military genius by historians, he was an active expansionist ruler, sometimes referred to as the Napoleon of Egypt, because he was recorded to have captured 350 cities during his rule, conquering much of the Near East, from the Euphrates to Nubia. He was the first Pharaoh to cross the Euphrates, during his campaign against Mitanni.

Thutmose III made a total of 17 known military campaigns. His most famous campaign was his first when he decisively defeated a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh at the Battle of Megiddo in his Year 23. According to Thutmose III's Hall of Annals in the Temple of Amun at Karnak, the battle occurred on "Year 23, I Shemu [day] 21, the exact day of the feast of the new moon"(Urk. IV, 657.2)--a lunar date. This date corresponds to May 9, 1457 BC based on Thutmose III's accession in 1479 BC. After victory in battle, he conquered Megiddo after a siege of 7 or 8 Months (see Siege of Megiddo). Thutmose III is consistently regarded as one of Egypt's greatest Warrior Pharaohs and he changed his country into an internationally respected Superpower in the Ancient World. He was also a prolific builder of Temples throughout Egypt.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Thutmose's military campaigns", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki