Ramesses, the second pharoah of that name, is often regarded as the greatest egyptian pharoah ever. He built many mighty monuments and conquered much land. He was so mighty that, many future pharoahs refered to him as "the Great Ancestor "
Ramesses took his throne in his late teens, but he did not wait to get involved in military matters. While during his early rule he focused on the building of monuments, in his second year pharoah, he took part in a sea battle agisant a large force of foriegn pirates who were crippling trade in Egypt.
In his fourth year, Ramesses organized a massive assualt on Syria. He expanded Egypt hugely in these, despite not challenging Egypt's most hated foes, the Hittes or their counterparts to the south, the Nubians.
A year after his first Syrian assualt, he organized another. For this purpose he built a new city with the purpose of providing for the army. During this war the near legendary battle of Kadesh took place. During the battle of Kadesh Ramesses's army was ambushed by a huge force of Hittes. They outnumbered the Egyptians three to one. However, Ramesses's forces counterattacked and destroyed the Hittes. The survivors of the Hitte army "leapt from their chariots and swam across the river to escape".
Ramesses was very long lived for his time. We know he ruled for 66 years, thanks to the weird Sed festival. The festival takes place after a pharoah has ruled for thirty years. After that it takes place every 3 years. During the first festival, the pharoah offically becomes a living god, as proven by his exceptionally long life (Most people back then never reached middle age).
Ramesses also ordered massive building projects as well as army orders. A good example is his massive temple at Abu Simbel. It is built in Nubia, and has been described as "an ego cast in stone". This is because the only deity you could worship in the temple was Ramesses himself.