Cao Huan vs Necho II

Cao Huan was installed as emperor of Cao Wei at age 14 after the death of Cao Mao. He was a puppet ruler under the control of Sima Zhao, who held all real power and prepared for the eventual dynastic transition.

Cao Huan abdicated the throne of Cao Wei to Sima Yan, ending the Wei dynasty. Sima Yan then founded the Jin dynasty, with Cao Huan being granted the title Prince of Chenliu and allowed to live in peace.

Necho II led an Egyptian army to Carchemish to support the Assyrians against the Babylonians. On the way, he defeated the Judean army of King Josiah at Megiddo. Josiah was killed in the battle. This victory allowed Necho to assert Egyptian control over the Levant for a short period.

Necho II's Egyptian forces were defeated by the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar II at Carchemish. The defeat ended Egyptian influence in the Levant and allowed Babylon to dominate the region. Necho retreated to Egypt and lost control of Syria and Palestine.

Necho II began construction of a canal connecting the Nile River to the Red Sea. The canal, which was later completed by Darius I, was approximately 85 kilometers long and allowed ships to travel between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. This project facilitated trade and military transport.

Necho II commissioned a Phoenician expedition to circumnavigate Africa. According to Herodotus, the expedition sailed from the Red Sea around the Cape of Good Hope and returned via the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar). This voyage, if historical, would have been the first circumnavigation of Africa.