egyptbc.com

Thutmose III possessed all the qualities required from a great ruler. He was a brilliant general who never lost a battle, and he excelled as an administrator and statesman. He was an accomplished horseman, archer, athlete and discerning patron of the arts.

His reign, with the exception of the uncharacteristic spite against the memory of Hatshepsut, was notable for its lack of bad feeling from his subjects. Thutmose III showed none of the brutality of his forefathers and would appear to have been a fair and just Pharaoh.

During Hatshepsut’s reign there were no wars and Egypt’s neighbouring countries regularly paid tribute. Typically, though, when Thutmoses took the throne, Egypt’s neighbours saw an opportuntity to test his resolve.

Thutmose found himself facing a coalition made up from the princes of Kadesh and Megiddo, who had mobilised a large army. Also the Mesopotamians and their kinsmen living in Syria refused to pay tribute and declared themselves free of Egypt. Not daunted, Thutmose immediately set out with his army and, after crossing the Sinai desert, he marched to the city of Gaza, which had always remained loyal to Egypt.

The events of the campaign are well documented because Thutmose’s private secretary, Tjaneni, kept a record which was later copied and engraved onto the walls of the temple of Karnak. This first campaign revealed Thutmose to be the supreme military genius of his time. He understood the value of logistics and lines of supply, the necessity of rapid movement and sudden surprise attack. He lead his armies both in person and by example. It is also believed that he was the first commander to utilise sea power in battle.