IIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Southern Syria
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Battle of Raphia was a major Ptolemaic victory over the Seleukid king Antiochos III in 217 BC. Ptolemy IV’s forces included an unprecedented contingent of roughly 20,000 native Egyptians trained and armed in Greek fashion, alongside Greek troops and African elephants. The elephants failed in battle, but the infantry defeated Antiochos and restored Ptolemaic control over southern Syria. The victory also encouraged Egyptian nationalist resistance.
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Le récit
The battle arose from Antiochos III’s attempt to exploit the weakness of Ptolemy IV Philopator and recover influence in Egypt. After driving Ptolemaic forces from southern Syria, Antiochos threatened an invasion of Egypt. Ptolemy’s minister Sosibios used negotiations to gain time while assembling a large army, including approximately 20,000 native Egyptians armed according to Greek practice.
When fighting resumed at Raphia in southern Syria in 217 BC, the Ptolemaic army’s African elephants proved ineffective. They fled in panic before Antiochos’s Indian elephants, whose use reflected the military traditions brought into the Greek world after Alexander’s eastern campaigns. Ptolemaic infantry nevertheless fought successfully, with native Egyptians and Greeks contributing to the victory.
Antiochos was forced to seek peace, and Ptolemaic control over southern Syria was restored. The political consequences within Egypt were less favorable to the dynasty. Egyptian troops took pride in their achievement, and an Egyptian nationalist revival soon produced revolts that became a recurring challenge throughout the Ptolemaic period.
IIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Southern Syria
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Battle of Raphia was a major Ptolemaic victory over the Seleukid king Antiochos III in 217 BC. Ptolemy IV’s forces included an unprecedented contingent of roughly 20,000 native Egyptians trained and armed in Greek fashion, alongside Greek troops and African elephants. The elephants failed in battle, but the infantry defeated Antiochos and restored Ptolemaic control over southern Syria. The victory also encouraged Egyptian nationalist resistance.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The battle arose from Antiochos III’s attempt to exploit the weakness of Ptolemy IV Philopator and recover influence in Egypt. After driving Ptolemaic forces from southern Syria, Antiochos threatened an invasion of Egypt. Ptolemy’s minister Sosibios used negotiations to gain time while assembling a large army, including approximately 20,000 native Egyptians armed according to Greek practice.
When fighting resumed at Raphia in southern Syria in 217 BC, the Ptolemaic army’s African elephants proved ineffective. They fled in panic before Antiochos’s Indian elephants, whose use reflected the military traditions brought into the Greek world after Alexander’s eastern campaigns. Ptolemaic infantry nevertheless fought successfully, with native Egyptians and Greeks contributing to the victory.
Antiochos was forced to seek peace, and Ptolemaic control over southern Syria was restored. The political consequences within Egypt were less favorable to the dynasty. Egyptian troops took pride in their achievement, and an Egyptian nationalist revival soon produced revolts that became a recurring challenge throughout the Ptolemaic period.