It would seem, however, that he was forced to take up arms at last.  We have, unfortunately, no description of the war which followed, so far as it was conducted by this monarch.  But it is evident that Apepi was completely disappointed in his hope of crushing the rising native power before it had grown too strong.  He had in fact delayed too late.  Ra-Sekenen, compelled to defend himself against his aggressive suzerain, raised the standard of national independence, invited aid from all parts of Egypt, and succeeded in bringing a large army into the field.  At the first he simply held his own against Apepi, but by degrees he was able to do more.  The Hyksos, who marched against Thebes, found enemies rise up against them in their rear, as first one and then another native chief declared against them in this or that city; their difficulties continually increased; they had to re-descend the Nile valley and to concentrate their forces nearer home.  But each year they lost ground.  First the Fayoum was yielded, then Memphis, then Tanis.  At last nothing remained to the invaders but their great fortified camp, Uar or Auaris, which they had established at the time of their arrival upon the eastern frontier, and had ever since kept up.  In this district, which was strongly fortified by walls and moats, and watered by canals derived from the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, they had concentrated themselves, we are told, to the number of 240,000 men, determined to make there a final stand against the Egyptians.

It was when affairs were in this position that Ra-Sekenen died, and was succeeded by a king of a different family, the first monarch of the “Eighteenth Dynasty,” Aahmes.  Aahmes was a prince of great force of character, brave, active, energetic, liberal, beloved by his subjects.  He addressed himself at once to the task of completing the liberation of his country by dislodging the Hyksos from Auaris, and driving them beyond his borders.  With this object he collected a force, which is said to have amounted to nearly half a million of men, and at the same time placed a flotilla of ships upon the Nile, which was of the greatest service in his later operations.  Auaris was not only defended by broad moats connected with the waters of the Nile, but also bordered upon a lake, or perhaps rather a lagoon, of considerable dimensions.  Hence it was necessary that it should be attacked not only by land, but also by water.  Aahmes seems to have commanded the land forces in person, riding in a war-chariot, the first of which we have distinct mention.  A favourite officer, who bore the same name as his master, accompanied him, sometimes marching at his side as he rode in his chariot, sometimes taking his place in one of the war-vessels, and directing the movements of the fleet.  After a time formal siege was laid to Auaris; the fleet was ordered to attack the walls on the side of the lagoon, while the land force was engaged in battering the defences elsewhere.