Battle of Perire

The Battle of Perire was fought around 1208 BC between the New Kingdom of Egypt, led by the pharaoh Merneptah, and a coalition of Libyan tribes and Sea Peoples.

From the early Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, fortresses were built west of modern-day Alexandria to shield the Nile Delta from Libyan (Libu) incursions.

[10] Furthermore, the Libyans allied with or hired a substantial contingent of Sea Peoples, including Shekelesh, Teresh, Ekwesh, Lukka, and Sherden;[11][3] members of the last group also served in the Egyptian military.

This was a strategically central location in the region, as holding of Farafra allowed the Libyans to control the routes between the local oases, send messages to Nubia, and to strike at several part of Egypt.

[15] According to Egyptologist Colleen Darnell, this showcases that Meryey was pursuing a grand strategy: As Farafra allowed them access to at least three invasion routes, the Libyans could surprise the Egyptians despite the latter's knowledge of their military preparations.

The Karnak Inscription poetically suggests that Meryey's main contingent advanced from Farafra to Bahariya, then into the Faiyum, before entering the delta around Memphis.

Manassa speculated that the battle was opened by some skirmishing -possibly involving the mobile chariotry- before the Libyan-Sea People army charged to engage in close combat.

[3] Once the Libyan-Sea People army had suitably thinned or even collapsed, the Egyptian chariots and infantry advanced, causing a rout and winning the field.

This punishment was especially brutal and used rarely in Egyptian history, suggesting that the pharaoh hoped to send a strong message to any other potential Libyan invaders.

Even though these Sea Peoples attacks were stopped at the twin battles of Djahy and the Delta by Ramesses III, Egypt subsequently declined.