The Kadesh Treaty

In 1274 BC, a great battle occurred at the Hittite stronghold Kadesh, an important ancient trade center, between Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II and Hittite King Muvattalli II. In the aftermath of the war, these two great powers agreed that a treaty was the only way to serve their interests in the region, and they ended up sealing the Kadesh Peace Treaty. ​​Due to the death of II Muvattalli, the Treaty was sealed by his successor Hattusili III. Symbolizing the eternal fraternity and equality between the two most tremendous forces of the world at that time, this document took its place in history as the first international peace treaty. The Treaty comprises sections applying to both sides on equal terms, demanding mutual aid and support when needed.Another striking point about this document is that it was also sealed by the Hittite queen of the period, Puduhepa. This Treaty, providing important information about the roles of the kings and queens in the Hittite social life, was written in cuneiform on silver plates in Akkadian, the language of diplomacy. Although the original silver plates have not been found to date, their copies have been unearthed as clay tablets in Hattusa.