Leader in distress that is Ramses II at Kadesh Ramses II, in the king’s fifth regnal year, invaded Hittite territory intending to take the city of Kadesh on the Orontes. The Hittite king Muwatallis II, prepared to stop him with a large army, including allied contingents. Ramses’ army marched from Egypt and in one month had gathered perhaps as many as 20 000 men, composed of four divisions of 5000. Each of the divisions consisted of 500 chariots and infantry; they were named after the gods: Amon, Re, Ptah, Seth. King Muwatallis’ army consisted of 8000 to 37 000 men. The Hittite chariots numbered around 3500 machines in a force of about 10 000 men. Each of the 2500 Egyptian chariots were served by a crew of two and were a firing platform for archers; they were light and flexible. The Hittite chariots were heavier, crewed by three (a driver, soldier and shield-bearer) and presumably designed for shock attack. The Hittite king cunningly hid his army behind the mound on which the city of Kadesh was built. Assuming that the enemy had withdrawn, Ramses hurried towards Kadesh and set up camp. The 2500 Muwatallis’ chariots charged out from hiding, scattering two Egyptian divisions. Ramses led his bodyguard and chariots in a desperate charge (like the pounce of a falcon) in an attempt to halt the Hittites, who looted the Egyptian camp before being driven out by fresh Egyptian troops (Nearinu, Ptah division). Ramses had won the battle but lost the war.
The use of chariots in warfare had a long tradition in the ancient Near East, but not in northern Europe. In many regions, chariots and the horses that pulled them were interred with wealthy leaders in their tombs. Chariots were common in Europe until around 100 BCE, although they continued to be used for much longer in Britain. Their speed and agility caused serious difficulties for the Roman infantry. Chariots were not intended to charge headlong into enemy formations. The warrior was able to fight against horsemen from the chariot’s platform, but would dismount to fight infantry soldiers on foot. In the meantime, the charioteer would move away a short distance from the battle, waiting to collect the warrior and carry him to safety, if necessary. A typical British chariot consisted of a small platform, open in the front and in the back, mounted on a wooden axle and with wheels made strong by iron tires. The charioteers sat at the front of the platform between two sideboards made of wood or wickerwork. However, the double arcade seems to be the most convincing interpretation of the evidence found on coins. In Britain, most horses were the size of the modern Dartmoor ponies and were effective in pulling chariots. The continental Gauls learned to breed larger horses capable of carrying a warrior and his weapon. The war-chariot of the Britons almost certainly did not have scythes. There is no accepted archaeological evidence concerning scythed chariots.
PL
Wykorzystywanie rydwanu w boju miało długą tradycję na starożytnym Bliskim Wschodzie, lecz nie w północnej Europie. Na jej wielu obszarach wozy bojowe i konie zaprzęgowe składano do grobu razem z arystokratycznymi przywódcami. Rydwany służyły w Europie do ok. 100 r. p.n.e., ale w Brytanii wykorzystywano je znacznie dłużej. Ich prędkość i zwrotność generowały Rzymianom poważne problemy. Nie posyłano ich do szarży przeciw liniom wroga. Wojownik walczył z rydwanu przeciw konnicy, lecz zazwyczaj schodził z pudła i walczył pieszo zarówno z jazdą, jak i piechotą. W Brytanii wiele koni wielkością przypominało współczesne pony rasy Dartmoor i nadawało się jedynie do zaprzęgania w rydwanach. Galowie z kontynentu natomiast nauczyli się hodować większe konie, które mogły dźwigać na grzbiecie wojownika w pełnym uzbrojeniu. Rydwany Brytów raczej nie posiadały kos. Nie ma żadnych dowodów archeologicznych na istnienie takich rydwanów w Brytanii.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.