Ramses the Great's Hittite Peace Treaty: The World's First

Ramses the Great's Hittite Peace Treaty: The World's First

In Episode 170, Lucas and Luna explore the diplomatic masterpiece that ended decades of war between Egypt and the Hittite Empire: the Treaty of Kadesh, often called the world's first surviving peace treaty. They walk through the crumbling political landscape after the famous battle—neither side had won decisively, and both empires were exhausted. Lucas unpacks the years of back-channel negotiations, the exchange of letters in Akkadian cuneiform, and the key players: Hattusili III, who seized the Hittite throne, and Ramses, who saw a chance for stability. They discuss the treaty's terms—extradition clauses, mutual defense pacts, and the marriage alliance that sealed it—all inscribed on silver tablets and copied onto temple walls at Karnak and Ramesseum. Luna wonders about enforcement, and Lucas explains how the treaty was reinforced by the arrival of a Hittite princess, Maathorneferure, who became Ramses's queen. They also touch on the treaty's legacy: a copy hangs in the United Nations today. The episode ends with a reflection on what peace meant for two ancient superpowers—and what it cost. #RamsesTheGreat #TreatyOfKadesh #HittiteEmpire #HattusiliIII #Maathorneferure #Karnak #Ramesseum #Akkadian #EgyptianHittitePeace #AncientDiplomacy #WorldsFirstPeaceTreaty #SilverTablet #Puduhepa #Kemet #BronzeAge #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Nubian Viceroy Setau: Governor of Gold

From the gold mines of Nubia to the temples of Abu Simbel, Ramses the Great's reign depended on one man: Setau, the Viceroy of Kush. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how this former military officer became the second-most powerful figure in Egypt, overseeing the extraction of Nubian gold that financed Ramses's building projects and diplomatic outreach. They discuss Setau's rise under the shadow of earlier viceroys like Amenemope, his role in constructing the temples of Gerf Hussein and Wadi es-Sebua, and how he navigated the tension between Egyptian pharaohs and Nubian chiefs. The conversation also touches on the hieroglyphic inscriptions Setau left behind, the logistics of gold mining, and the legacy of Nubian gold in Egyptian history—including the economic pressures that ultimately destabilized the empire. A deep dive into a figure who managed the wealth of an empire. #Setau #ViceroyOfKush #NubianGold #RamsesTheGreat #AbuSimbel #GerfHussein #WadiEsSebua #Kush #EgyptianGoldMines #Amenemope #LowerNubia #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #FexingoHistory #History #AncientHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Brewers: Beer and Power in Ancient Kemet

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the overlooked role of beer in Ramses the Great's Egypt. Beer was more than a daily staple—it was a currency, a religious offering, and a tool of state control. Lucas explains how brewers produced tens of thousands of gallons annually for temple rituals, worker rations, and diplomatic gifts. He discusses the ingredients—emmer wheat, dates, and flavorings like coriander—and the brewing process, which included a unique 'sweet' style for festivals. The conversation touches on the economic scale at Per-Ramesses, the political symbolism of beer in the Kadesh treaty, and archaeological evidence from Deir el-Medina and the Ramesseum. Luna asks about the role of women brewers and the link to divinities like Hathor and Sekhmet. A donation segment asks listeners to support ad-free history at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. The episode ends with a reflection on how everyday commodities shaped empire. #RamsesTheGreat #AncientEgypt #BeerHistory #Kemet #PerRamesses #DeirElMedina #Hathor #Sekhmet #KadeshTreaty #Brewing #EmmerWheat #WorkerRations #TempleEconomy #FexingoHistory #History #NorthAfrica #NewKingdom #AncientBrewing Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Royal Wives: Diplomacy and Dynasty

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked role of Ramses the Great's royal wives in diplomacy and dynastic strategy. Beyond Nefertari, Ramses married at least seven other Great Royal Wives, including two Hittite princesses — Maathorneferure and a second whose name is lost — as part of the peace treaty with Hattusili III. They also discuss Isetnofret, mother of Ramses's successor Merenptah, and the political marriages to Babylonian and Syrian princesses. The conversation delves into the harem conspiracy that may have threatened Ramses's succession, the diplomatic letters found at Hattusa, and how these marriages shaped the Late Bronze Age Near East. Specific terms include Hattusa, Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty, Maathorneferure, Isetnofret, Merenptah, harem conspiracy, diplomatic correspondence, and the role of royal women in maintaining empire. #RamsesTheGreat #AncientEgypt #HittiteEmpire #Maathorneferure #Isetnofret #Merenptah #HaremConspiracy #LateBronzeAge #Diplomacy #RoyalWives #Hattusa #EgyptianHittitePeace #NorthAfrica #AncientHistory #Pharaoh #NewKingdom #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Greats Sed Festival The Jubilee That Defined His Reign

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ramses the Great's Sed Festival (heb sed), the ancient Egyptian jubilee that Ramses used to project eternal vitality and divine favor. They discuss the origins of the festival in the Predynastic period and its evolution by the New Kingdom. Lucas explains how Ramses celebrated multiple sed festivals—rare for any pharaoh—and how these events were staged at his new capital Per-Ramesses and at the sacred site of Memphis. The conversation covers the ritual running of the 'Djeser' course, the erection of the Djed pillar, and the construction of a special heb sed court. Luna asks about the logistics of such massive celebrations, and Lucas details the role of Ramses's son Khaemwaset in organizing them. They also touch on the propaganda value of these festivals, as shown in reliefs at the Ramesseum and Medinet Habu. The episode ties the sed festival to Ramses's broader strategy of legitimizing his rule after the Battle of Kadesh and his long reign. This is a deep dive into a specific ritual that defined Ramses's self-image as a living god. #RamsesTheGreat #SedFestival #HebSed #AncientEgypt #Pharaoh #PerRamesses #Khaemwaset #Memphis #Djeser #DjedPillar #NewKingdom #Ramesseum #MedinetHabu #EgyptianRitual #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica #Kemet #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]