The Battle of Kadesh took place between the forces of the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II at the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River, just upstream of Lake Homs near the modern Syrian-Lebanese border. The battle is generally dated to 1274 BC in the conventional Egyptian chronology, and is the earliest battle in recorded history for which details of tactics and formations are known. It is believed to have been the largest chariot battle ever fought, involving between 5,000 and 6,000 chariots in total. As a result of the multiple Kadesh inscriptions, it is the best documented battle in all of ancient history. Ramesses II was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire. He built extensively throughout Egypt and Nubia, and his cartouches are prominently displayed even in buildings that he did not actually construct. He built on a monumental scale to ensure that his legacy would survive the ravages of time. He used art as a means of propaganda for his victories over foreigners, which are depicted on numerous temple reliefs. He also erected more colossal statues of himself than any other pharaoh. He also usurped many existing statues by inscribing his own cartouche on them. Colored bas-relief from temple at Abu Simbel.