The New Kingdom Army

The pharaoh headed Egypt's armed forces as commander-in-chief. As the warrior king he led a highly organised and professional standing army and navy. Tactics and strategies were decided upon by the pharaoh, in consultation with his war council. During the time of Thutmosis III there appears to have been only two army divisions: Amun based in Thebes and Ra based in Heliopolis. Each division numbered approximately five thousand troops. Divisions were then organised into smaller …

…the 12th century sixty percent of the soldiers were non-Egyptians. Sheshonq I (XXII Dynasty) recreated the royal army after years of neglect Sesonchosis created an elite of the most robust men... he raised 600,000 footsoldiers, 24,000 knights, 27,000 war chariots. He shared government with the companions of his youth, all experienced at fighting, full of bravery, numbering 1700 and more. Sesonchosis gave them the best land so they could devote themselves entirely to war, being economically secure. Diodorus (I,54) [9]