# Canonical recap data for Egyptian Hittite Peace Treaty Signed (1259)
# Source: https://recap.at/1259/treaty-kadesh
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: treaty-kadesh
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1259/treaty-kadesh"
title: Egyptian Hittite Peace Treaty Signed
aliases:
- Eternal Treaty
- Silver Treaty
- Treaty of Kadesh
- Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty
subtitle: 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.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1259-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1259
decade: 1250
summaryShort: 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 eac
summaryLong: 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.
lede: 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.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Karnak_%C3%84gyptisch-Hethitischer_Friedensvertrag_06.jpg/1280px-Karnak_%C3%84gyptisch-Hethitischer_Friedensvertrag_06.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty"
importance: 89
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Year Signed
  value: 1259 BCE
- label: Egyptian Ruler
  value: Ramesses II
- label: Hittite Ruler
  value: Ḫattušili III
- label: Territory Under Dispute
  value: Levant and Syria
- label: Duration of Prior Conflict
  value: Approximately 4 decades of intermittent warfare
- label: Surviving Versions
  value: Egyptian (temple inscriptions at Karnak, Abu Simbel) and Hittite (clay tablets at Boğazköy)
- label: Record Type
  value: Oldest known surviving peace treaty in history
- label: Marriage Alliance
  value: Ḫattušili III's daughter married Ramesses II to cement the peace
timeline:
- date: 1180-01-01
  title: Both Empires Decline
  description: Within a century of the treaty's signing, both the Egyptian and Hittite empires begin their terminal decline due to internal instability and invasion.
- date: 1250-01-01
  title: Treaty Renewed
  description: Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III renew and reaffirm their treaty, demonstrating its durability as a governing document.
- date: 1256-01-01
  title: Royal Marriage
  description: Ḫattušili III's daughter is sent to Egypt and married to Ramesses II, sealing the diplomatic alliance with a dynastic bond.
- date: 1259-01-01
  title: Treaty Negotiations
  description: After years of skirmishing, Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III open formal peace talks. Both empires are exhausted by the conflict and face threats elsewhere.
- date: 1259-04-21
  title: Treaty Signed
  description: The Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty is officially concluded. It includes mutual defense clauses, trade agreements, and territorial boundaries dividing the Levant.
- date: 1274-01-01
  title: Battle of Kadesh
  description: 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.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian%E2%80%93Hittite_peace_treaty"
  title: Egyptian-hittite peace treaty
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: 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.
categories:
- war
taxonomy:
domain: political
eventTypes:
- treaty_signing
- peace_accord
- diplomatic_summit
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- governance
- exchange
impactRadius: civilizational
velocity: gradual
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: transition
metaDescription: Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III signed history's oldest surviving peace treaty in 1259 BCE, ending Egyptian-Hittite conflict over the Levant.
wikidataQid: Q253155
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260513044043/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian%E2%80%93Hittite_peace_treaty"
  capturedAt: 2026-05-13
  label: Egyptian-hittite peace treaty
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian%E2%80%93Hittite_peace_treaty"
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: Royal Egyptian Gazette
  publisherSlug: royal-egyptian-gazette
  headline: Pharaoh Ramesses II Secures Eternal Peace with Hittite Kingdom
  publishedAt: 1259-04-15
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 92
  type: newspaper
  region: Egypt
- publisher: Hittite Royal Chronicle
  publisherSlug: hittite-royal-chronicle
  headline: "Hittite: 'Hattusili III Binds Egypt in Eternal Covenant' / EN: King Hattusili III Forges Historic Alliance with Egyptian Throne"
  publishedAt: 1259-05-02
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available
  excerpt: "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."
  significance: 91
  type: newspaper
  region: Anatolia (Hittite Empire)
- publisher: Nubian Trade Reports
  publisherSlug: nubian-trade-reports
  headline: Egyptian-Hittite Peace Strengthens Regional Trade Routes
  publishedAt: 1259-06-20
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 65
  type: magazine
  region: Nubia/Kush
- publisher: Levantine Dispatch
  publisherSlug: levantine-dispatch
  headline: Peace at Last - Egypt and Hittites End Ancient Rivalry
  publishedAt: 1259-05-10
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - no live archive available
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 85
  type: newspaper
  region: Levant/Syria-Palestine
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Karnak_%C3%84gyptisch-Hethitischer_Friedensvertrag_06.jpg/1280px-Karnak_%C3%84gyptisch-Hethitischer_Friedensvertrag_06.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Karnak_%C3%84gyptisch-Hethitischer_Friedensvertrag_06.jpg/800px-Karnak_%C3%84gyptisch-Hethitischer_Friedensvertrag_06.jpg"
  caption: Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty
  credit: Wikipedia · "Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty"
  width: 330
  height: 440
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Tratado_de_kadesh.jpg/1280px-Tratado_de_kadesh.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Tratado_de_kadesh.jpg/800px-Tratado_de_kadesh.jpg"
  caption: Tratado de kadesh
  credit: Gabbhh
  width: 260
  height: 400
peoplesVoice:
- source: Ramesses II, Pharaoh of Egypt
  voiceType: official
  context: The Egyptian king addressed his court upon ratifying the treaty, emphasizing the strategic victory and divine sanction of the accord.
  excerpt: 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.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 88
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Egyptian temple inscriptions and official records
  publishedAt: 1259-06-21
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Hattusili III, King of the Hittites
  voiceType: official
  context: The Hittite sovereign justified the treaty to his generals and nobles, framing it as strategic necessity rather than weakness.
  excerpt: "Let it be known throughout Hatti: we have chosen wisdom over endless war. The Storm God himself approves this pact between brothers."
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 87
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Hittite royal correspondence and diplomatic records
  publishedAt: 1259-07-15
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Malenakht, Egyptian Military Commander
  voiceType: skeptic
  context: A veteran officer of Egypt's Syrian campaigns expressed doubts about trusting former adversaries, speaking privately to fellow commanders.
  excerpt: 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.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 62
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Military correspondence and administrative records
  publishedAt: 1259-08-02
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Amin, Egyptian Scribe and Court Recorder
  voiceType: analyst
  context: A palace scribe documented the treaty's implications for trade and stability in the eastern Mediterranean region.
  excerpt: 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.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 71
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Administrative papyri and economic records
  publishedAt: 1259-09-10
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Ashtar-Khamis, Hittite Court Priest
  voiceType: expert
  context: A high priest of the storm god commented on the religious significance of the mutual oath-taking ceremony witnessed by both courts.
  excerpt: 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.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 79
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Temple records and religious documentation
  publishedAt: 1259-07-25
  originalLanguage: en
