Leadership Lessons From Ramesses II
This series of articles seeks to examine the character attributes of highly successful leaders, regardless of their adherence to a strong faith or moral standard. In presenting these thoughts, Leadership Ministries is not agreeing with or advocating these traits or practices, but rather presents these as ideas for discussion and development in your own leadership journey.
Historians consider Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC) the greatest and most powerful Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom period. He lived to be at least 90 and ruled for more than 65 years. During his reign, the Egyptian army is estimated to have totaled some 100,000 men: a formidable force that he used to strengthen Egyptian influence. The early part of his reign was focused on building cities, temples, and monuments. On his death, he was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings; his body was later moved to a royal cache where it was discovered in 1881. It is now on display in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.[1]
One reason Ramesses II is so well known is that he built many monuments to himself, including this temple. Photo: Egypt Museum
Of Ramses’ personal life virtually nothing is known. His first and perhaps favorite queen was Nefertari; the smaller temple at Abu Simbel was dedicated to her. The reign of Ramesses II marks the last peak of Egypt’s imperial power. Though ruthless and authoritarian in his rule, we can find some interesting leadership characteristics in looking at Ramesses II’s reign:
Make a lasting impression. Ramesses II was perhaps among the earliest leaders to think about his personal “brand”. Despite demonstrating poor military leadership on the battlefield, he and his forces were able to overcome a battle with the neighboring Hittites. Ramesses communicated to the Egyptian people that he had won a great victory against their enemies in order to secure support for the campaign at home. Even though he was forced to negotiate a treaty between the Egyptians and the Hittites, most Egyptians saw Ramesses II as a war hero.[2]
Ramesses also used art as a means of propaganda for his victories over foreigners, which are depicted on numerous temple reliefs. He built on a grand scale and remade Egypt’s existing works of art in his own image. The elegant but shallow reliefs of previous pharaohs were easily altered, so their pictures and words could easily be obliterated by their successors. Ramesses insisted that the carvings of his life and victories be deeply engraved into the stone, which made them less susceptible to later alteration, and more prominent in the Egyptian sun, reflecting his relationship with the sun deity, Ra.
Share the leadership role. Rameses was just 24 when he ascended the throne of Egypt. He was appointed Prince Regent by his father at age 14. Pharaohs, as a rule, did not acknowledge their children, let alone the leadership capacity they may have possessed. Ramesses II as Pharaoh, however, had his princes prominently represented on monuments. Ramesses II had 100 children or more (some say as many as up to 170!). Of his children, he acknowledged at least 30 princes and 30 princesses publicly. During his long life he trained at least a dozen sons to be crown prince. He treated his princes with equal regard and respect. He was seen by the people as humane and was well liked.[3]
Ramesses II was great at branding—he put pictures of himself and his military exploits everywhere in Egypt during his reign. Photo: Egypt Museum
Pivot toward peace. Ramesses’ greatest military campaign was actually a failure—he tried unsuccessfully to retake the Hittite city of Kadesh. After more than 16 years of intermittent hostilities, he instead signed a peace treaty. With the wars over, the two nations established friendly ties. In 1245 BC Ramesses contracted a marriage with the eldest daughter of the Hittite king. Ramesses II constructed hundreds of buildings, dozens of temples and improved the infrastructure for farming throughout Egypt. As a result the nation enjoyed its greatest period of prosperity in its long recorded history. So popular was his rule that nine kinds that followed him used his name; it was considered an honor to be able to claim descendance from Ramesses II.[4]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramesses_II
[2] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-lessons-from-egypt-dr.-bouvier/
[3] https://strategicteams.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/rameses-ii-a-leader-among-leaders/
[4] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ramses-II-king-of-Egypt/Prosperity-during-the-reign-of-Ramses-II
Cover photo: Shutterstock