Why were the later years of Ramses II’s reign mostly peaceful?

The later years of the reign of Ramses II were largely peaceful primarily because of the conclusion of a formal treaty of peace with the Hittite Empire in 1258 BCE, following 16 years of intermittent hostilities and a decade of stalemate.12

Several factors contributed to this shift toward diplomacy:

• Strategic Necessity: Both nations faced external pressures that made continued conflict disadvantageous. The Hittites were concerned about the rising power of Assyria and internal unrest in western Anatolia, while Ramses II may have been wary of a potential Libyan threat to the western delta.2
• Mutual Recognition: After the inconclusive Battle of Kadesh, both sides recognized that neither could achieve a decisive military victory. This led to the establishment of a nonaggression pact that included a mutual alliance against outside attacks and internal rebellions, as well as the extradition of fugitives.23
• Diplomatic Ties: The peace was further solidified through ongoing diplomatic correspondence and, 13 years after the treaty, by the marriage of Ramses II to a Hittite princess.12