The Battle of Raphia (Rafah)
The Battle of Raphia was the decisive battle in the Fourth Syrian War between the Egyptians, led by Ptolemy IV, and the Seleucid Empire, led by Antiochus III (the Great). The battle took place on June 22, 217 BC, near the modern city of Rafah (located in Gaza strip).
More than a century after the death of Alexander the Great his successors were still struggling for dominance over his fragmented empire. In 219 BC, Antiochus III declared another war with Egypt. The decision to launch this war, known as the Fourth Syrian War, formed after Antiochus was under the impression that Ptolemy was behind Acaios, a cousin of Antiochus who declared himself king of the Seleucid Empire territories in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), challenging Antiochus's control over the complete empire. Antiochus's ambition was to regain lost control in those parts of the empire lost during the reign of king Seleucus I Nicator. He took advantage of Ptolemaic Egypt's weakness which was a result of public unrest and exchanges of ruling and recaptured the port city of Seleuceia (in modern Iraq) and cities in the Holy-Land and Transjordan.
On their part, the Egyptians faked negotiations with the Seleucids while pretending they intend to compromise with Antiochus, in order to gain time and organize their armies against the Seleucids.
In the summer of 217 BC, while still busy with his conquests in the Holy-Land, Antiochus learned that the army of Ptolemy was amidst preparations to launch war against him. Antiochus gathered his army and rushed to face the gathering Egyptian army.
The Battle of Raphia is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees 1 (3):
"When Philopator learned from those who returned that the regions that he had controlled had been seized by Antiochus, he gave orders to all his forces, both infantry and cavalry, took with him his sister Arsinoë, and marched out to the region near Raphia, where the army of Antiochus was encamped. But a certain Theodotus, determined to carry out the plot he had devised, took with him the best of the Ptolemaic arms that had been previously issued to him, and crossed over by night to the tent of Ptolemy, intending single-handed to kill him and thereby end the war. But Dositheus, known as the son of Drimylus, a Jew by birth who later changed his religion and apostatized from the ancestral traditions, had led the king away and arranged that a certain insignificant man should sleep in the tent; and so it turned out that this man incurred the vengeance meant for the king. When a bitter fight resulted, and matters were turning out rather in favor of Antiochus, Arsinoë went to the troops with wailing and tears, her locks all disheveled, and exhorted them to defend themselves and their children and wives bravely, promising to give them each two minas of gold if they won the battle. And so it came about that the enemy was routed in the action, and many captives also were taken. Now that he had foiled the plot, Ptolemy decided to visit the neighboring cities and encourage them. By doing this, and by endowing their sacred enclosures with gifts, he strengthened the morale of his subjects."
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| Ptolemy IV |
More than a century after the death of Alexander the Great his successors were still struggling for dominance over his fragmented empire. In 219 BC, Antiochus III declared another war with Egypt. The decision to launch this war, known as the Fourth Syrian War, formed after Antiochus was under the impression that Ptolemy was behind Acaios, a cousin of Antiochus who declared himself king of the Seleucid Empire territories in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), challenging Antiochus's control over the complete empire. Antiochus's ambition was to regain lost control in those parts of the empire lost during the reign of king Seleucus I Nicator. He took advantage of Ptolemaic Egypt's weakness which was a result of public unrest and exchanges of ruling and recaptured the port city of Seleuceia (in modern Iraq) and cities in the Holy-Land and Transjordan.
In the summer of 217 BC, while still busy with his conquests in the Holy-Land, Antiochus learned that the army of Ptolemy was amidst preparations to launch war against him. Antiochus gathered his army and rushed to face the gathering Egyptian army.
Ptolemy's army was composed of 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry and 73 North African elephants. Antiochus's army was composed of 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry and 102 Asian elephants.
Both armies met in Raphia. In the beginning of the battle, the elephant contingents on the wings of both armies moved to charge. According to Greek historian, Polybius, most African elephants (the species used by Ptolemy's Egyptian army) retreated in panic upon the site of the larger size Asian Elephants, and ran through the lines of friendly infantry arrayed behind them, causing disorder in their ranks. Ptolemy rode to the center encouraging his phalanx to overcome the disorder and initiate their attack. At the same time Ptolemy's cavalry outflanked the elephants of Antiochus, and along with the infantries of the right wing managed to defeat the left wing of Antiochus. Antiochus tried to regroup his dispersing army, but his troops were routed and could no longer be regrouped. The battle had ended in a decisive Ptolemaic victory.
According to Polybius, the Seleucids suffered less than 10,000 dead infantries, about 300 horses, 5 elephants and 4,000 men that were taken prisoner. The Ptolemaic army losses were 1,500 infantries, 700 horses and 16 elephants.
In the aftermath of the battle Antiochus returned to Antioch with his remaining troops and opened negotiations for a yearlong truce, to which Ptolemy agreed. The eventual peace treaty acknowledged Seleucid control of the city port of Antioch, Seleuceia, while Ptolemy regained all of Coele-Syria.
This is the only known battle in history which African and Asian elephants were used against each other.
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| Antiochus III |
Both armies met in Raphia. In the beginning of the battle, the elephant contingents on the wings of both armies moved to charge. According to Greek historian, Polybius, most African elephants (the species used by Ptolemy's Egyptian army) retreated in panic upon the site of the larger size Asian Elephants, and ran through the lines of friendly infantry arrayed behind them, causing disorder in their ranks. Ptolemy rode to the center encouraging his phalanx to overcome the disorder and initiate their attack. At the same time Ptolemy's cavalry outflanked the elephants of Antiochus, and along with the infantries of the right wing managed to defeat the left wing of Antiochus. Antiochus tried to regroup his dispersing army, but his troops were routed and could no longer be regrouped. The battle had ended in a decisive Ptolemaic victory.
According to Polybius, the Seleucids suffered less than 10,000 dead infantries, about 300 horses, 5 elephants and 4,000 men that were taken prisoner. The Ptolemaic army losses were 1,500 infantries, 700 horses and 16 elephants.
In the aftermath of the battle Antiochus returned to Antioch with his remaining troops and opened negotiations for a yearlong truce, to which Ptolemy agreed. The eventual peace treaty acknowledged Seleucid control of the city port of Antioch, Seleuceia, while Ptolemy regained all of Coele-Syria.
This is the only known battle in history which African and Asian elephants were used against each other.
The Battle of Raphia is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees 1 (3):
"When Philopator learned from those who returned that the regions that he had controlled had been seized by Antiochus, he gave orders to all his forces, both infantry and cavalry, took with him his sister Arsinoë, and marched out to the region near Raphia, where the army of Antiochus was encamped. But a certain Theodotus, determined to carry out the plot he had devised, took with him the best of the Ptolemaic arms that had been previously issued to him, and crossed over by night to the tent of Ptolemy, intending single-handed to kill him and thereby end the war. But Dositheus, known as the son of Drimylus, a Jew by birth who later changed his religion and apostatized from the ancestral traditions, had led the king away and arranged that a certain insignificant man should sleep in the tent; and so it turned out that this man incurred the vengeance meant for the king. When a bitter fight resulted, and matters were turning out rather in favor of Antiochus, Arsinoë went to the troops with wailing and tears, her locks all disheveled, and exhorted them to defend themselves and their children and wives bravely, promising to give them each two minas of gold if they won the battle. And so it came about that the enemy was routed in the action, and many captives also were taken. Now that he had foiled the plot, Ptolemy decided to visit the neighboring cities and encourage them. By doing this, and by endowing their sacred enclosures with gifts, he strengthened the morale of his subjects."
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