Battle of Carchemish

Carchemish means the city of Chemosh. Being a city named after or dedicated to a good, it was a holy city (Kadesh).

After the destruction of Nineveh in 612 BC by a combined Babylonian and Median army lead by Nabopolassar, the last Assyrian dynast, Ashuruballit II moved his capital to Haran. Haran stronghold was then captured in 610 BC.

In 609 BC the Egyptian pharaoh Neco II, fearful of the rapid advance of the Babylonians, moved up the Palestine coast and eastward toward Carchemish to assist the Assyrians.

The great struggle between the Egyptians and the Babylonians for the control of the wealth of the Jewish State of Judah eventually led to the war between two giants.

In a fierce battle at Carchemish, Neco and Assyrian face the Babylonians.

In 605 BC The Egyptians and Assyrians were defeated at the battle of Carchemish. The victory achieved under the leadership of the crown prince, Nebuchadnezzar.

Carchemish may be considered a major turning point in ancient Near Eastern history. It was after Egypt’s defeat at this famous battle of Carchemish that the Babylonians were established as the next world power to succeed the Assyrians that rule the whole of the Middle East.
Battle of Carchemish