Battle of Perire
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The Battle of Perire, fought around 1208 BC, saw Pharaoh Merneptah of Egypt achieve a decisive victory over a coalition of Libyan tribes and Sea Peoples. This battle marked the first of many encounters between Egypt and the Sea Peoples, with our primary source of information being the Great Karnak Inscription. During the Old and Middle Kingdom periods, Libya was not a major concern for Egypt beyond occasional raids. However, by the late Eighteenth Dynasty, securing the western borders became a priority, leading to the construction of fortresses west of modern Alexandria. Despite these efforts, the Libyan tribes, driven by famine and led by Chief Meryey, advanced eastward, culminating in the invasion during Merneptah's reign.
By the late 13th century BC, the Libyan tribes, including Tjehenu and Meshwesh, united under Meryey and formed an alliance with the Sea Peoples. Their goal was likely to conquer Egyptian territory, including Memphis. Meryey's coalition, possibly numbering in the tens of thousands, moved from captured oases in the west towards the Nile Delta. The Libyans' strategy involved splitting into columns to disrupt Egyptian communications and supply lines. They advanced into the delta around Memphis, causing significant disruption and occupying parts of the western delta for about a month before the decisive battle at Perire.
The battle at Perire unfolded with Egyptian archers bombarding the Libyan-Sea People coalition for six hours, breaking their lines before the Egyptian chariots charged in to pursue the fleeing invaders. Despite the scant details in the Karnak Inscription, it is clear that the Egyptians gained a decisive victory, reportedly killing 6,000 and capturing 9,000 enemies, though these numbers are likely exaggerated. In the aftermath, Merneptah had many captives impaled, a rare and brutal punishment intended to deter future invasions. While this battle successfully halted Libyan attacks, the Sea Peoples would continue to pose a significant threat, contributing to the eventual decline of Egypt in the Late Bronze Age.