On 16 April 1457 BC, Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III led his forces to a decisive victory over a coalition of Canaanite city-states led by the King of Kadesh at the Battle of Megiddo.
Marking the earliest known battle described in detailed, reliable records—thanks to inscriptions at the Temple of Amun at Karnak—the campaign showcased strategic brilliance, including a surprise march through a narrow mountain pass.
The victory solidified Egypt’s dominance in the Levant and demonstrated the emerging sophistication of military planning in the ancient world.
