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Ramesses II ascended the throne of Egypt around 1279 BC and ruled for 66 years,
1862 Event

May 31

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Ramesses II ascended the throne of Egypt around 1279 BC and ruled for 66 years, the second-longest reign in Egyptian history. He launched massive construction projects: the temples at Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum mortuary temple, and additions to Karnak and Luxor that still dominate the Egyptian landscape. His military campaigns against the Hittite Empire culminated in the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BC), which Ramesses portrayed as a great victory on temple walls but was actually an inconclusive stalemate. He subsequently signed the earliest known peace treaty in history with Hittite King Hattusili III. Ramesses had over 100 children and outlived many of them. When his mummy was transported to France in 1974 for conservation treatment, it was issued an Egyptian passport listing his occupation as "King (deceased)."

May 31, 1862

164 years ago

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