Thutmose III also known as the greatest and most powerful Warrior Pharaoh and Warrior King began his fifty-three year, ten month and twenty six day reign in a co-regency with step-mother Hatshepsut during the New Kingdom 18th dynasty. Thutmose carried out seventeen successful military campaigns over his ruling and was the most successful and tactical military strategist through his implementation of surprise attacks, belief of the Gods supporting him, tributes and oaths, the sharing of booty and the building of a strong navy and army. Dubbed with the title of “The Egyptian Napoleon” shown in the source The Great Commanders Of The Egyptian World, Thutmose demonstrated the ability to command the Ancient Egyptian world and dominate surrounding cities and countries. Thutose was an incredibly skilled warrior whose name was associated with the status of hero long after his ruling in Egypt.

Thutmose III came from a dynasty of great and powerful military strategists which laid the underpinning for him to be a powerful “Warrior Pharaoh”. Thutmose III built on the foundations his grandfather Thutmose I laid out after obtaining his commencing his reign in early childhood. At the start of Thutmose III’s sovereignty, where Hatshepsut took full control and Egyptians experienced stability, peace and prosperity. The Egyptian army was on standby, fully equipped and ready to go when called for Thutmose’s first expedition in to Nubia and Asia at age 11. From this time the reign was a complete partnership with the Hatshepsut and the young Thutmose developing tactics, strategizing, making decisions and ruling as one up until Hatshepsut’s death in Thutmose’s early twenties. Thutmose fully excelled as a military strategist from this point on having learned invaluable skills and enthusiasm from his forebears. This is outlined in the source ‘Significant events during the reign of Thutmose III’ in the textbook ‘Studies in Ancient Egypt’.

A second factor which gave Thutmose great military strategy skills were that in each battle he believed he had divine intervention supporting him. In all his years as Pharaoh, Thutmose had been told by the god Amun-Re to expand the boundaries of Egypt and demonstrate his amazing military abilities. During his reign Thutmose mainly focused on regaining the areas of Syria and Palestine. These countries held home to more than 300 cities and were not under any central authority. To own these cities you would gain control of the central trade routes, and to be owned in Ancient times was one of high success. These areas also held the powerful Kingdoms of Babylon, Assyria, The Hittites and the Mitanni who posed threats to the Ancient Egyptian world. Egypt’s focal enemy at this time was the Kadesh and Thutmose with the blessing from Amun Re began his planning for a battle at Megiddo. ‘I (Amun) gave you valour and victory over all lands.’ This source is shown on the Charles Sturt University website illustrating the belief that Thutmose had the power of a god with dominant force over Egypt and all areas he conquered.

The campaign at Megiddo is known as Thutmose’s greatest tactical and strategically planned accomplishment where he displayed his outstanding military and strategic skills to win the battle. This is reported by the source 7.10 ‘The site of the battle of Megiddo’ in textbook ‘Studies in Ancient Egypt’ where we see the full demonstration of the planned route to be taken. When Thutmose heard the news that Syrian princes had gathered near Megiddo he acted immediately and marched to the town of Yehem to stem the enemy’s advance. Thutmose successfully navigated a narrow defile over the mountain, which was the route of attack least expected. This allowed the enemy of 300 Princes from Syria and Palestine to be defeated and have Megiddo taken back into Egyptian Ruling after a siege lasting eight months. In Thutmose III’s thirty-third year of reign, he made another calculated and fearless moves with an attack on Mitanni. Thutmose had been planning this for an extended period of time waiting for the right moment to siege. The attack is believed to have taken place on the eastern shore of the Euphrates River and resulted in the capturing of thirty members of the kings Harem and the seizing of hundreds of his army. This victory in Megiddo and Mitanni were two of Thutmose’s greatest successes due to the implementation of his excellent military tactics of surprise and contributed to him being a great Warrior Pharaoh.

Thutmose III was considered the Father of the Egyptian Navy as he built the first combat Navy that was documented in the Ancient world, which is viewed as a further innovative military strategy. Thutmose built a large shipyard to create a facility for troop, horse and supply transport to his campaigns in Syria and Iraq. This facilitated the take over of Megiddo and other cities in Syria and Iraq. The ports on the Phoenician coast were used as Egyptian supply ports while campaigns were being carried out in Kadesh and other cities in the al-Biqa or Bekaa valley. This facilitated a successful campaign and was a well thought out military tactic by Thutmose. In addition, this demonstrated his great dedication to his army and troops who held him in high esteem as their great Warrior King and exceptional Military strategist. The evidence of his dedication can be found in the ‘British Britannica Article’ written by the historian Margaret Stefana Drower in the section Military Strategist.

A further effective military strategy utilised by Thutmose was how he transformed the army founding a consistent conscript base, establishing a professional office corps, providing the latest and most modern weapons for all troops, and integrating chariotry’s war army into new tactical rules. Thutmose always ensured the loyalty of his army and troops by rewarding them with booty from Syria and Palestine. The Egyptians gained such things as horses, prisoners/slaves, gold, silver, chariots, armour, weapons, and livestock to feed their families. These riches were distributed amongst the troops to thank them of their services. This facilitated their obligation and commitment to his leadership and again demonstrating a great military strategy and contributing to his role as a powerful pharaoh.

An additional innovative military strategy that Thutmose utilised was that he did not punish the leaders of the rebellion groups following his victories. He made them take a lifetime oath of continued loyalty to him and his country. He then sent them back to their families and home cities to pay tribute to the all mighty city of Egypt. This ingenious military tactic worked in Thutmose’s favour, as there was no future rebellion from the Syrian or Palestinian Princes again. This was again a sign of great leadership and a clever strategy to unite all parties through a psychological bond rather than punitive measures.

In later years of Thutmose III’s campaigning, Thutmose wanted to merge his acquisitions into one strong imperial force. Inherent rulers, members of local ruling dynasties, were sent to govern their own terrains as beneficiaries of Egypt and were obliged by oath to keep the peace, render annual tribute, and obey the Egyptian representative in the region, otherwise knows as the "overseer of foreign lands." Fortresses were built, and Egyptian barracks were stationed at key points along the coast and in the highlands to ensure the always-strong connection with the Egyptian rulers. This helped to strengthen the bond between Pharaoh and his people and again displayed his great Military strategies as a ruler. The Egyptian military forts are shown in Gary Kenworthy’s book on page 164 with the areas Egypt concurred and had trust with shown in the source ‘Asian conquests of Thutmose III’.

For the remaining years in Thutmose III’s life he was gratified to enjoy all the earnings from his victories and build projects to document his dominations and his winnings. The tributes of Syria, Palestine, Sudan and Asia all helped to fund his already enormous assets. Sources of the annals list large quantities of timber, metal, cattle and grain brought in by his conquered cities. Minoan Crete and Cyprus, Babylonia, Assyria, and the Hittites sent presents of gratitude. Tombs of high officials of this time are decorated with scenes depicting the reception of foreign diplomats travelling from places as far away as the Aegean and the Greek mainland to lay their rich and exotic gifts at the feet of the pharaoh. The prestige and wealth of Egypt had never been so high and this was all due to Thutmose’s great ability to strategize Egypt into one united, extensive powerful force due to his exceptional military strategies.

During the last year of Thutmose III’s life, with his strength from the longest reign documented deteriorating health, Thutmose appointed his son Amenhotep II, the son of his second wife as Pharaoh. Thutmose past in 1426 BC and was buried in a quiet area of the Valley of the Kings in Western Thebes. Thutmose died with prestige he had fought more battles over longer periods of time and had more victories than Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Thutmose’s records show not only his wonderful ability to be one of the greatest warrior kings, but also his abilities as a athlete and excellent soldier, hunter and above all a highly successful military tactician and strategist. His ruling was documented with prestige in history and with his legend was used 500 years down the track for prospering Pharaohs who wanted to live up to the Great Warrior Kings status.

In conclusion Thutmose was the greatest military strategist and demonstrated his one of a kind tactics through building a Navy and army, Tributes and Oaths with surrounding countries, the distribution of Booty amongst troops from conquests, carefully planned surprise attacks and support from the gods which guided all of his strategies and tactics as a Warrior Pharaoh. This facilitated his iconic ruling, with all Warrior Pharaohs that reigned there after aspiring to be.