The Spectacular Tale of TUTHMOSIS 111 Gruelling March to the Battle of Megiddo

In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte of France mounted an expedition to conquer Egypt, to his regret his military aspect was a failure and he was forced to withdraw from Egypt within three years, but the scholars he took with him to complete a survey and record all the aspects of Egyptian life  brought  Ancient Egypt to the attention of the world.

Tuthmosis 111 was given the title of 'The Egyptian Napoleon' by the French, because they were so impressed by his military genius and the fact that he spent most of his reign on campaign with other countries bringing them under the rule of ancient Egypt. With all the wealth of their tributes he made the Temples and Egypt very rich.  Karnack Temple reliefs show the Battle of Megiddo. The sixth pylon reliefs show all the important prisoners and what tribe they represented, taken into bondage as slaves.

The battle of Megiddo was one of the most important and earliest campaigns of his Tuthmosis reign. The prince of Kaddesh had united chiefs from the surrounding areas and together they were refusing to pay tributes to Egypt as they had not been enforced during the reign of Hatshepsut.  the spectacular tale of a grueling march of two months through the desert by Tuthmosis and his army to confront the prince of Kaddesh and his united enemies are given on the walls of Karnack Temple.

Tuthmosis arrived at Yemen which was the most northerly point of Egyptian supremacy; his spies had reported to him that the enemy had gathered at Megiddo. Tuthmosis and his generals met to discuss their final advance; they told the king that there were three possible routes to reach Megiddo. The most dangerous route was through the Amarna Pass which would be a constant source of fear every step they took as it was very narrow and they would have no defense from ambush or rock falls. Tuthmosis decided to go through this pass regardless of the advice of his generals; he was so determined in the belief that he would catch his enemies unaware that he rode at the front to guide his army. The march took twelve precarious hours until finally they emerged to the horror of the enemy who were totally unprepared for them as they had posted their armies on the other routes that they expected the Egyptian army to arrive at. The arrival and encampment is shown on the walls of Karnack Temple.

On the day of the battle Tuthmosis charged into battle on his gleaming chariot of electrum trampling his enemies underfoot. The enemy ranks fell into disorder with their men retreating and clambering up rope ladders to escape the ferocity of the Egyptian army. Unfortunately it is recorded that the foot soldiers were too keen to plunder from the fallen enemy soldiers, which resulted in the safe evacuation inside the city of the

remaining force. Tuthmosis was furious, he now had to lay siege to the city of Meggadio which took him a further seven months. Eventually the Prince of Kaddesh and his chiefs sent out 84 of their children with gifts and surrendered.

Tuthmosis returned to Thebes jubilant with all the spoils of his first campaign, the sixth pylon records than he had over 2,000 slaves including the children of the chiefs. 2,041 mares, 6 stallion’s and 161 foals, cattle, sheep, goats, metal stoneware and armour. Tuthmosis led a further 17 campaigns during his reign.

Tuthmosis 111 honored in every way the name of the God Amun and the memory of his Father and brother,  Tuthmosis 1 and Tuthmosis 11, but he systematically destroyed the name of Hatshepsut, and her image from the temples. 

In Karnack Temple he founded The Hall of Ancestors and erected the Hall of Pillars, and the chambers and corridors belonging to it on the east side of Karnack temple, The sixth pylon details the Battle of Megiddo. To the rear of Karnack Temple he created a Festival Hall, but instead of the usual papyrus columns, he created columns to look like the tent pegs that were used for his campaign tents.