The Battle of Kalya was a battle fought between the armies of Ancient Egypt and the Jebusites of Urushalim (Jerusalem) in 1189 BC amid the Late Bronze Age collapse.
In 1189 BC, Pharaoh Ramesses III, having unified most of Egypt under his rule, planned to acquire a stronger foothold in Canaan through the conquest of Urushalim. Ramesses dispatched his general Djedeni to conquer the unfortified Canaanite town of Urushalim (Jerusalem), which he did after overcoming significant resistance. King Tanit of Urushalim and a small army marched around the Dead Sea from Ammon and harried the southern Judean countryside, attempting to lure the Egyptians into battle. Djedeni proceeded to march out of Urushalim with his army and confront Tanit's army at Kalya on the Dead Sea. In the ensuing battle, the Egyptians launched an all-out infantry assault on the Jebusites while their chariots launched a flank attack. Djedeni nearly died after charging into the melee at the head of his chariot bodyguard, but he withdrew just as his army drove the Jebusites from the field. The Egyptian chariots ruthlessly pursued the Canaanites, and the Egyptians destroyed Ilimilku's remnants.
Gallery[]
