Historica Wiki
Advertisement

The Battle of Shubrakhit was fought between the armies of the Egyptian prince Ramesses and Governor Nebay of Shedyt in 1198 BC, during the Ramessid Civil War.

In 1198 BC, with Lower Egypt secured with the capture of Rhacotis, Prince Ramesses decided to wage war against Shedyt, whose armies occupied the desert towns of Khem and Unet Sneferu; Ramesses sought to consolidate his border with that of his father Setnakhte's realm. Ramesses' general Amanapa was dispatched to capture Khem and Unet Sneferu, but the arrival of Shekelesh invasion fleets off Lower Egypt distracted Ramesses from prosecuting the war against the city of Shedyt (Faiyum) itself. This allowed Shedyt's ruler Nebay to lead a massive fleet down the Nile to threaten Lower Egypt, and, as Nebay neared the town of Sai, Ramesses' general Paseny led his army through the Nile Delta, destroying Shekelesh armies as he went, to confront the Shedyt invaders. The two armies met downstream from Sai near present-day Shubrakhit.

In the ensuing battle, the Shedyt army enjoyed superior geographical positions; Nebay's army held a sandy hilltop, forcing the Ramessids to attack uphill. However, Paseny - a master of flanking tactics - attacked the hill from multiple sides, slaughtering most of Nebay's Lower Egyptian slubmen and spearmen. Nebay's slingers were barely touched before managing to escape, and Nebay lost half his army in the fighting. The remnants of Nebay's army were forced to flee to present-day El-Mahmoudeya near the Mediterranean coast, where Paseny gave chase. He destroyed Sahefy's 1,185-strong remnants in a follow-up battle, losing just 211 men in the process, and clearing Lower Egypt of Shedyt's troops.

Gallery[]

Advertisement