Nubian skirmishers

The Egyptian army is estimated to have had over 100,000 soldiers at the time of Ramesses II c. 1300 BC. This number included also Libyans, Nubians, Canaanite and Sherdens who all served in the Egyptian army organized into companies divided by nationality, generally commanded by Egyptian officers. They are generally described as mercenaries but some may have been prisoners of war who preferred the life of the mercenary soldier to that of a slave.