Ramses II was perhaps the most powerful of all Egyptian pharaohs. He ruled during the Egyptian golden age and built more moments and sired more children than any other Pharaoh. He styled himself the ruler of rulers and has long been regarded as "Ramses the Great." But over 3,000 years after his death he got his very first passport to travel internationally.
His building programs included many of Eygpt's most celebrated monuments including those a Karna and Abu Simbel. During his long reign, Eygpt is considered to have been at the pinnacle of its power and glory.
The Glorious Reign of Ramses II
Like Alexandar the Great, Ramses II's path had been paved by those who went before him. His grandfather, Ramses I, brought the formerly commoner household to power and royalty through military prowess. Seti I (his father) increased the kingdom's wealth with mines and quarries while also protecting Egypt's northern frontier from the Hittites.
- Lived: Ca 1303 to Ca 1213 BC
- Long Reign: Reigned For 66 Years
Ramses II came to power at the young age of 14. The Hittites were quick to seize on this perceived weakness and invaded the Egyptian empire's northern border. But he marched his army to meet them in battle and managed to defeat the Hittites at Kadesh in what is today Syria.
Even though his army was heavily battered by a measured victory at Kadesh he portrayed it as a great triumph. He adorned the temples of Egypt with claims he had single-handedly defeated the mighty Hittites. He went on to sign a peace treaty with the Hittites - and that peace treaty is the oldest peace accord still surviving today.
Two copies of this treaty have been discovered. One in hieroglyphics on a stela in the temple of Karnak and another in Akkadian on a clay tablet that was discovered in Turkey. Such is the significance of this peace treaty that according to National Geographic, a replica of the tablet is on display at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Mighty Building Works
Today the temples at Karnak and Abu Simbel are some of Egypt's greatest wonders. When the modern country of Egypt was building the massive Aswan Dam in the 1950s and 60s it was feared that the mighty statues of Abu Simbel would be lost under the rising waters. Instead, UNESCO launched its first major preservation effort and miraculously the statues and temples of Abu Simbel were cut up, moved, and reassembled on higher ground.
- Children: He Sired Over 100 Children
- Chief Queen: Nefertari
- Temple of Abu Simbel: The Entrance has Four 60 Foot Tall Seated Statues of Ramses II
- Nefertari: There Is Also A Second Smaller Temple For Queen Nefertari
He built a new capital called Per Ramessu which he of course named after himself.
So great was Ramses II that after he died nine subsequent pharaohs took on his name.
Ramses II And Moses
For those who think there really was a historical confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, it has been suggested that Ramses II could have been that Pharaoh with a hardened heart. At any rate, it is Ramses II who is depicted as the brother of Moses in the 1998 animated movie Prince of Egypt as well as the epic 1956 movie The Ten Commandments.
- Tip: Prince of Egypt's Song "By The Power of Ra" Is Catchy Enough to Learn The Egyptian Gods
The Passport Issued For Ramses II to Travel To France
In 1974 the mummy of Ramses II was flown to Paris for preservation work because archaeologists noticed the mummy was deteriorating and needed treatment for a fungal infection in Paris.
- Passport: He Was Issued An Egyptian Passport To Go To France
A French military aircraft brought his remains from the Cario museum and was greeted by the Garde Republicaine. That is France's equivalent of a U.S. Marine honor guard, according to a New York Times 1976 article.
There are incredible pictures of the passport that was issued for the long-deceased Pharaoh, but these seem to be fake and according to USA Today they first originated with the Daily Mail. Unfortunately, the picture of the passport linked above is reportedly fake, but he had something like that according to National Georgraphic!
- Occupation: "King (Deceased)"
But it is true he was issued a valid Egyptian passport and according to National Geographic it included:
"a photo of the pharaoh's ancient face. His occupation was listed as “King (deceased).”
- Fun Fact: The Queen Does Not Possess A Passport As They are Issued In Her Name (Basically, the Queen is a passport)
While visiting Ramses II's greatest monument's be sure to visit the mystical Valley of the Kings in Egypt as well.