Flight of the Wanderers
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As fighting raged between Mitanni and the Hittites throughout the region of Yamhad, especially for the prize of Aleppo, the region became a battleground as forces under Shaushtatr and Hantili both sought domination. Notably amongst the population, were the people known as the Aramaens [1], a Semitic people who were known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle and pastoralism and for a time were on the edge of society in the region. This soon changed as during the fighting, both powers warring for the area vied for support amongst the Aramaens who would aid both sides but largely came in support of the Hittites participating by giving horses and cattle as well as making numerous raids against the forces of Mitanni. In 1470BC when Mitanni wins control of the area, the wrath of Shaushtatr falls on the Aramaens as a scapegoat for violence in the region initiating a general campaign of slaughter against the Aramaeans.
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Many Aramaens flee the region, first heading to Hittite controlled land but Hantili likewise rebuffs them not wanting them to make trouble in his territories leading to two small massacres and so they turn southward. The Aramaens flee directly into the region of Canaan who were not well received by the urbanite communities in the area, but would mesh well with the Shasa and Hapiru [2] also outcasts of society. Then from amongst the Aramaens came Mulbaal, a leader who through alliances and deals gathered members of the local groups into a army that swept southward on the independent and feuding city-states of which they raided, looted, burned, and conquered as they moved into the area notably burning Byblos, Baalbek, and Sidon (the coastal portion of Tyre was also besieged but the island-city portion remained unscathed) as well as other village communities where many would settle after displacing the previous inhabitants. The most notably repercussion of this, besides a new stream of refugees who fled southward for the city of Megiddo was Pharaoh Tutmoses III who noted the disruption of cedar wood for ships and crafts which mostly came from Byblos.
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Taking note of the disruption he returned from campaigning in Nubia [3] and returned to Egypt to muster forces for a campaign though Canaan which by the time he was ready in 1464 the forces of Mulbaal reigned over much of northern Canaan. Though at this point the steam was running out Mulbaal’s so far successful forces, with much territory gained and loot taken squabbles soon began to appear and with the arrival of Tutmoses III at Megiddo the cracks grew even more discontenting. With no choice but to win or die, Mulbaal pushed and forced those under his command to converge on Megiddo and fight, even as the city was besieged by Tutmoses III who wanted it for a staging area for the Egypt, and ultimately this leads into the Battle of Megiddo between the forces of Egypt, Mulbaal, and Megiddo. The defenders of Megiddo are caught in the middle as a battle of epic proportions rages outside as the riders and raiders of Mulbaal meet the Egyptian Pharaoh and his army leading to a clash outside the very walls of the city which is well recorded by onlookers. Without a doubt the Egyptians are able to crush Mulbaal’s forces, Mulbaal is said to be killed and the nomadic coalition is destroyed as it splinters into tribal groups but the victory is not complete for Egypt when the Pharaoh himself is killed by a shot from Megiddo which is the only real victory the city-state can claim from the battle[4].
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When the news of the death of Tutmoses III reaches Egypt, it leaves his mother and co-ruler, Hatshepsut stricken to the point where she dies a few months later from a loss of the will to live or just possibly her bone cancer suddenly makes a rapid progression. As both mother and son are sent to live in Duat, the young and frail Amenemhat and his mother Queen Satiah are placed on the throne as the rulers of Egypt but three years later both die due to sickness [5]. This leads to a succession crisis which will take some years to overcome but will eventually bring forth the strong and famous XIX Dynasty of Egypt.
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Meanwhile further north the chaos left in the wake of the Battle of Megiddo begins to settle, as feuding tribes and resurgent communities come back into the foray with the still divided landscape of Canaan divided as ever but several Aramaen and Hapiru City-States dominate Canaan. This situation will remain for another century or so, all the while the influence of Mitanni pours into the area, Introducing Indara and Hurrian craftsmanship into the area nor the persistence of the Hittites once they take Cyprus [6] but alarge amount of rivalries will end with the unification of Canaan under the Conqueror from Yareah [7].
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[1] Who notably never really forged an empire, except a few Neo-Hittite City States and odd powers here and there it is said.
[2] Ancient Canaan Cossacks, who may have been the Hebrews
[3] OTL he started off his military campaigns in the Levant but here he decided to take care of Nubia first
[4] Say goodbye to Akhenaton, Nefertiti, Tut, and the 18 Dynasty
[5] They both died somewhere between 24-35 years of Tutmoses’ reign but the cause is unknown, so it seems likely to be a sickness that would claim both.
[6] As opposed to Egyptian Influence as OTL.
[7] Canaan for "The Moon" aka the city of Jericho
So lets see. I think I have pretty much butterflyed much of the history of Egypt and the Israelites. I probably screwed up Carthage too. Why screw with Egypt? SImply that as in OTL with the Hittites and Mitanni weakened they would have without a doubt pwned both of those Kingdoms and maybe even have conquered Mesopotamia turning this into a Egypt-Wank which for now I am trying to avoid.