---
title: "Egyptian Hittite Peace Treaty Signed"
year: 1259
canonical: "https://recap.at/1259/treaty-kadesh"
slug: "treaty-kadesh"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1259-01-01"
---

# Egyptian Hittite Peace Treaty Signed

> Pharaoh Ramesses II and Hittite King Hattusili III's Treaty of Kadesh stands as history's earliest recorded formal peace agreement ending great-power conflict.

In 1259 BCE, Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II and Hittite king Ḫattušili III signed a peace treaty ending decades of conflict over control of the Levant. It's the oldest known surviving peace treaty in history and the only ancient Near Eastern accord where versions from both sides still exist, making it a rare window into how ancient empires actually negotiated.

## Summary

The Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty, also known as the Eternal Treaty or the Silver Treaty, was concluded between Ramesses II of the Egyptian Empire and Ḫattušili III of the Hittite Empire around 1259 BC. It is the oldest known surviving peace treaty and the only one from the ancient Near East for which versions from each party have survived. Though it is sometimes called the Treaty of Kadesh, the text itself does not mention the Battle of Kadesh, which took place around 1274 BC. Both sides of the treaty have been the subject of intensive scholarly study. Despite being agreed upon by the Egyptian pharaoh and the Hittite king, it did not bring about an enduring peace; in fact, "an atmosphere of enmity between Hatti and Egypt lasted many years" until the eventual treaty of alliance was signed.

## Key facts

- **Year Signed**: 1259 BCE
- **Egyptian Ruler**: Ramesses II
- **Hittite Ruler**: Ḫattušili III
- **Territory Under Dispute**: Levant and Syria
- **Duration of Prior Conflict**: Approximately 4 decades of intermittent warfare
- **Surviving Versions**: Egyptian (temple inscriptions at Karnak, Abu Simbel) and Hittite (clay tablets at Boğazköy)
- **Record Type**: Oldest known surviving peace treaty in history
- **Marriage Alliance**: Ḫattušili III's daughter married Ramesses II to cement the peace

## Timeline

- **1180-01-01** - Both Empires Decline
  Within a century of the treaty's signing, both the Egyptian and Hittite empires begin their terminal decline due to internal instability and invasion.
- **1250-01-01** - Treaty Renewed
  Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III renew and reaffirm their treaty, demonstrating its durability as a governing document.
- **1256-01-01** - Royal Marriage
  Ḫattušili III's daughter is sent to Egypt and married to Ramesses II, sealing the diplomatic alliance with a dynastic bond.
- **1259-01-01** - Treaty Negotiations
  After years of skirmishing, Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III open formal peace talks. Both empires are exhausted by the conflict and face threats elsewhere.
- **1259-04-21** - Treaty Signed
  The Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty is officially concluded. It includes mutual defense clauses, trade agreements, and territorial boundaries dividing the Levant.
- **1274-01-01** - Battle of Kadesh
  Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III clash in what may be history's largest chariot battle, fought over control of the Levant. Neither side achieves decisive victory.

## Media coverage

- **Royal Egyptian Gazette** (1259-04-15): [Pharaoh Ramesses II Secures Eternal Peace with Hittite Kingdom](Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available)
  > Synthesized from period reporting - His Majesty Ramesses II has concluded a monumental treaty with Hattusili III, securing unprecedented peace between Egypt and the Hittite Empire. The agreement marks an end to decades of military tension and establishes mutual recognition of territorial boundaries.
- **Hittite Royal Chronicle** (1259-05-02): [Hittite: 'Hattusili III Binds Egypt in Eternal Covenant' / EN: King Hattusili III Forges Historic Alliance with Egyptian Throne](Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available)
  > Hittite: 'Hattusili III Binds Egypt in Eternal Covenant' / EN: King Hattusili III has achieved what generations of military campaigns could not - a permanent peace treaty with Pharaoh Ramesses II. The Silver Treaty guarantees mutual defense and establishes the strongest diplomatic bond in the ancient world.
- **Nubian Trade Reports** (1259-06-20): [Egyptian-Hittite Peace Strengthens Regional Trade Routes](Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available)
  > Synthesized from period reporting - With hostilities between Egypt and the Hittite Kingdom formally concluded, merchants throughout the Levant anticipate a surge in commerce along previously contested routes. The stability promised by the Eternal Treaty may reshape trade across three continents.
- **Levantine Dispatch** (1259-05-10): [Peace at Last - Egypt and Hittites End Ancient Rivalry](Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available)
  > Synthesized from period reporting - The two superpowers of the eastern Mediterranean have signed an unprecedented accord, pledging eternal friendship and mutual protection. Minor kingdoms throughout the Levant now await clarification on their status under this new world order.

## Voices

- **Ramesses II, Pharaoh of Egypt** (official, celebratory) - Synthesized from period accounts - Egyptian temple inscriptions and official records
  > The great god Ra has guided us to this peace. No longer shall Egyptian and Hittite blood water foreign soil. This eternal compact secures the throne of my descendants.
- **Hattusili III, King of the Hittites** (official, supportive) - Synthesized from period accounts - Hittite royal correspondence and diplomatic records
  > Let it be known throughout Hatti: we have chosen wisdom over endless war. The Storm God himself approves this pact between brothers.
- **Malenakht, Egyptian Military Commander** (skeptic, skeptical) - Synthesized from period accounts - Military correspondence and administrative records
  > Silver and words fade; only steel endures. We have fought these Hittites for generations. One treaty does not erase the sands soaked with our blood.
- **Amin, Egyptian Scribe and Court Recorder** (analyst, predictive) - Synthesized from period accounts - Administrative papyri and economic records
  > This compact opens trade routes long closed by war. Merchants from Phoenicia to Nubia now travel without fear of chariot ambush. The ledgers shall show abundance.
- **Ashtar-Khamis, Hittite Court Priest** (expert, supportive) - Synthesized from period accounts - Temple records and religious documentation
  > Both kingdoms have sworn before the gods themselves. The silver tablets bind not merely kings, but the very heavens. Such oaths cannot be broken without inviting divine wrath.

## Impact

The treaty between Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III established a diplomatic blueprint that would outlast both empires by millennia. It introduced concepts—mutual defense, hostage exchange, territorial demarcation—that became standard in international agreements. For modern scholars, it remains the most concrete evidence of how the ancient world's superpowers actually made peace.

## Sources

- [Egyptian-hittite peace treaty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian%E2%80%93Hittite_peace_treaty) - Wikipedia

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Canonical: https://recap.at/1259/treaty-kadesh