A confederation of Hebrew tribes known as Israelites decisively defeated the Canaanites in about 1125BC. The Philistines, however, who had established an independent state along the southern coast, were another story. Because of their superior military organization and their iron weapons, in about 1050BC, they inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Israelites. As a result of this defeat, the Israelites united and established a monarchy. The most famous of the Israeli kings, David, ultimately defeated the Philistines shortly after 1000BC.