Which ancient Egyptian king is credited with the first known peace treaty?

Ramesses II is credited with the first known surviving peace treaty. The agreement, usually called the Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty or Treaty of Kadesh, was concluded around 1259–1258 BCE between Egypt and the Hittite Empire, whose ruler was Hattušili III.

The treaty followed years of conflict over Syria, including the famous Battle of Kadesh, fought during Ramesses II’s reign. Rather than claiming a decisive victory, both empires eventually negotiated an agreement promising peace, mutual non-aggression, and assistance if either side faced attack or rebellion. It also included provisions for returning political refugees.

The treaty is especially important because versions from both sides survive. The Egyptian text was carved in hieroglyphs at temples including Karnak and the Ramesseum, while the Hittite version was preserved on clay tablets found at Hattusa. This makes it one of the best-documented diplomatic agreements of the ancient world.

A common mix-up is calling it simply the “first treaty ever.” Older diplomatic agreements may exist, including earlier Mesopotamian treaties, but the Ramesses–Hattušili agreement is widely described as the oldest surviving international peace treaty between major powers.