DBA Armies

This list starts with Kamose’s rebellion against the Hyksos and ends with the death of Rameses XI, by which time the kingdom was in decline. New Kingdom armies added massed chariotry to the tactics of the Middle Kingdom armies. Famous generals of this period include the brilliant Thutmose 111 (1479-1425 BC), Rameses II (1279-1213 BC) whose “victory” at Kadesh over the Hittites was more than a little exaggerated, and Rameses III (1184-1153 BC) who beat off dangerous invasions by first the Libyans and later by Sea Peoples. Constructing a great monument depicting your victory is often better than actually having one. Surviving chariots have axle lengths from 1.98 to 2.36m. Chariots were crewed by a usually bronze-scale armoured archer and a lesser armoured or unarmoured driver who sometimes had a wooden shield. Some horse teams were also armoured in bronze or leather scale trappers, with scales in alternating rows of different colours. Horses were small, had hogged or cropped manes and are depicted as black, grey, bay and chestnut. Early New Kingdom infantry are often shown running with an axe in the right hand, a spear in the left and a small shield slung behind one shoulder. Those depicted after 1200 BC had larger shields, wore body armour, probably formed more closely; and stood up to Sea Peoples who had defeated armies trusting more entirely in chariots. Libyan and Sherden mercenaries were recruited after 1200 BC, especially as guardsmen immune to local dynastic politics. References: Armies of the Ancient Near East N. Stillman & N. Tallis, War in Ancient Egypt A.J Spalinger, Fighting Pharaohs R.B Partridge, Warfare in Ancient Egypt B. McDermott.