Battle of Carchemish
The
Battle of Carchemish was fought between the
Egyptian army and the
Babylonian army. It was fought at
Carchemish about
605 BC.
When the
Assyrian capital
Ninevah was overrun by the Babylonians in
612 BC, the Assyrians moved their capital to
Harran. When Harran was captured by the Babylonians in 609 BC, the capital was once again moved, this time to Carchemish. Egypt was allied with the Assyrians, and marched in
609 BC to their aid against the Babylonians.
The Egyptian army of Pharaoh
Necho II was delayed at
Megiddo by the forces of
King Josiah of
Judah. Josiah was killed and his army was defeated.
The Egyptians were further delayed, so that when they met the full might of the Babylonian army led by
Nebuchadrezzar II at Carchemish, the combined Egyptian and Assyrian forces were soundly defeated. Assyria ceased to exist as an independent power, and Egypt retreated and was no longer a significant force in the
Middle East.
