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Suppiluliuma I

Forging an Empire: A Chronicle of the Great Hittite King who reshaped the ancient Near East.

Origins 📜 His Reign 👑

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Origins

Uncertain Beginnings

The precise origins of Suppiluliuma I remain somewhat obscure in historical records. While early interpretations suggested a lineage tracing back to Hattusili II, the discovery of seal impressions clarified his parentage. Most scholars now concur that Suppiluliuma was the son of his predecessor, Tudhaliya III, whom he served diligently.

Royal Connections

Evidence suggests Suppiluliuma's first wife, Henti, was the daughter of Tudhaliya III. This connection implies Suppiluliuma was not only a key military figure but also potentially an adopted son or son-in-law of the reigning king, solidifying his claim to the throne.

Early Military Acclaim

Even before ascending the throne, Suppiluliuma distinguished himself as a formidable military commander. He played a crucial role in defending and reclaiming Hittite territories against significant foreign incursions, laying the groundwork for his later expansionist policies.

Generalship

Reclaiming Anatolia

Suppiluliuma, serving as chief military commander under Tudhaliya III, led successful campaigns to restore Hittite authority. He fought against the Kaška in the north and secured regions like Kaššiya and the Ḥulana River Land to the west and southwest. His efforts extended Hittite influence over territories previously lost to invaders.

Northern Frontiers

Key campaigns included confronting the Kaška under Piyapili and engaging King Karanni of Azzi-Ḥayasa in the northeast. Victories in battles like the one at Kummaḫa solidified Hittite control over Azzi-Ḥayasa, turning it into a vassal state.

Western Campaigns

Suppiluliuma also campaigned southwest against the Arzawa confederacy, recovering cities like Tuwanuwa (modern Tyana). The consolidation of power in western Anatolia was a long process, spanning approximately twenty years, involving both his time as general and his reign.

Accession to the Throne

Ascending the Throne

Upon the death of Tudhaliya III, Suppiluliuma assumed the throne. This transition involved the controversial murder of Tudhaliya the Younger and other potential heirs, orchestrated by Suppiluliuma's supporters. This act was later associated with a devastating plague that afflicted the Hittite kingdom.

The Tawananna Title

Following tradition, Tudhaliya III's widow, Dadu-ḫeba, retained the title of Tawananna (Great Queen) until her death. Suppiluliuma's first wife, Henti, eventually assumed this significant role after her mother-in-law's passing.

Family and Succession

Royal Marriages

Suppiluliuma's primary wife was Henti, who became the Tawananna. Later in his reign, he married a Babylonian princess, possibly named Malnigal, daughter of Burna-Buriaš II, further strengthening diplomatic ties.

Suppiluliuma fathered numerous children, including future rulers and diplomats:

  • Arnuwanda II: Designated heir and eventual successor.
  • Telipinu: Served as priest of Kizzuwatna and later as vassal king of Aleppo.
  • Piyassili (Šarri-Kušuh): Appointed vassal king of Carchemish, ruling lands west of the Euphrates.
  • Zannanza: Sent to Egypt for a political marriage, tragically murdered en route.
  • Muwa(talli) II: Became Great King after his brother Murshili II.
  • Murshili II: Succeeded his elder brother Arnuwanda II and became a prominent Hittite king.
  • Daughters married into prominent families, including the rulers of Mira-Kuwaliya and Mittani.

His sister also married Huqqana, king of Azzi-Ḥayasa.

Genealogical Reconstructions

Scholarly reconstructions of the Hittite royal family tree, notably by Trevor Bryce and Jacques Freu, detail Suppiluliuma's lineage and descendants. These accounts highlight his pivotal position connecting the reigns of Tudhaliya III to his sons Arnuwanda II and Murshili II, and his grandson Tudhaliya IV.

Suppiluliuma I's placement within the Hittite royal lineage is central to understanding the New Kingdom's structure. He was the son of Tudhaliya III and fathered several significant successors:

  • Parentage: Son of Tudhaliya III (c. 1370–1350 BC).
  • Wives: Henti (first wife, later Tawananna), Malnigal (second wife, Babylonian princess).
  • Notable Sons: Arnuwanda II (successor), Telipinu (vassal king of Aleppo), Piyassili (vassal king of Carchemish), Zannanza (died en route to Egypt), Murshili II (successor to Arnuwanda II).
  • Notable Daughters: Muwatti (married Mašḫuiluwa of Mira), another daughter married Šattiwaza of Mittani.

His reign marked a significant expansion and consolidation of Hittite power, directly influencing the succession and political landscape for generations.

The Reign of Suppiluliuma I

Imperial Expansion

Suppiluliuma's reign (c. 1350–1322 BC) was characterized by aggressive expansion and consolidation of Hittite power across Anatolia and Syria. He successfully subjugated numerous smaller kingdoms and challenged the dominance of established powers like Mittani and Egypt.

Wars and Diplomacy

His military campaigns, including the "One-Year War" and the "Six-Year War," led to the downfall of the Mittani kingdom. He installed Hittite princes as vassal rulers in key cities like Carchemish and Aleppo, extending Hittite authority deep into Syria and Mesopotamia.

Suppiluliuma's strategic focus shifted towards the southeast, targeting the remnants of Mittani and its sphere of influence:

  • Conquest of Mittani: He launched major campaigns, culminating in the capture of the Mittanian capital, Washshukanni.
  • Syrian Vassals: He conquered numerous Syrian city-states, including Aleppo, Mukish, Niya, Qatna, and Kadesh, installing Hittite vassals.
  • Alliance with Shattiwaza: He supported Šattiwaza, a claimant to the Mittanian throne, against rivals and Assyria, solidifying Hittite control over the region through treaties.
  • Ugarit Alliance: Secured the loyalty of Ugarit, a vital port city, through diplomatic maneuvering and military support.

Hittite-Egyptian Rivalry

Relations with Egypt were complex, marked by periods of hostility. The "Zannanza Affair," where Suppiluliuma's son Zannanza was sent to marry an Egyptian queen (likely Ankhesenamun) but was murdered en route, triggered a severe diplomatic crisis and military confrontation.

This diplomatic incident had profound consequences:

  • The Proposal: An Egyptian queen sought a Hittite prince as her husband and king, fearing internal rivals.
  • Zannanza's Mission: Suppiluliuma dispatched his son Zannanza, but he was killed before reaching Egypt.
  • Hittite Retaliation: Suppiluliuma blamed the Egyptians, launching raids into Egyptian territory (Amka region) and engaging in diplomatic conflict.
  • Plague Outbreak: The conflict and the subsequent Hittite military actions are believed to have introduced a devastating plague into the Hittite kingdom, which claimed the lives of Suppiluliuma and his successor Arnuwanda II.

Suppiluliuma in Fiction

Literary Portrayals

Suppiluliuma I has been featured in historical fiction, offering diverse interpretations of his character and reign.

  • Mika Waltari's "The Egyptian": Depicts Suppiluliuma as a ruthless antagonist, possibly influenced by wartime sentiments, portraying him as a tyrannical conqueror.
  • Janet Morris's "I, the Sun": A biographical novel focusing on Suppiluliuma, praised for its detailed understanding of Hittite culture.
  • Philip Armstrong's "The Shadow Prince": Features Suppiluliuma in a minor role, characterized as a great but formidable king forced onto the throne.
  • Manga "Red River": Appears as an elderly figure retiring from warfare.
  • Hüseyin Nihal Atsız's "Dalkavuklar Gecesi": Included as a character in this satirical Turkish novel.

Related Figures

Key Contemporaries

  • Piyassili: Son and vassal king of Carchemish.
  • Murshili II: Son and successor, known for his plague prayers.
  • Suppiluliuma II: Last known Hittite great king, a descendant.
  • Zita: Brother of Suppiluliuma I.

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References

References

  1.  Also known as Malnigal; daughter of Burnaburias II of Babylonia (Bryce 1997, p. 173).
  2.  King (lugal) of Carchemish.
  3.  Zannanza died on his way to Egypt to marry a pharaoh's widow, probably Ankhesenpaaten, the widow of Tutankhamun (Bryce 1997, pp. 196–198).
  4.  Massanauzzi married Masturi, king of the Seha River Land (Bryce 1997, p. 313).
  5.  King (lugal) of Tarhuntassa (Bryce 1997, p. 296); apparently later Great King of Hatti (Bryce 1997, p. 354).
  6.  Nerikkaili married a daughter of Bentesina, king of Amurru (Bryce 1997, p. 294).
  7.  Freu & Mazoyer 2007b: 155-156, additionally suggesting to identify him with Tudḫaliya the Younger.
  8.  Freu & Mazoyer 2008: 166, 201; Freu & Mazoyer 2010: 20-21, rejecting the alternative reading "ḪiÅ¡mi-Å arruma."
  9.  Bryce 2005: 250-251; Freu 2007b: 212 places these events after Å uppiluliuma's accession; Weeden 2022: 574.
  10.  Bryce 2005: 151 places these events before Å uppiluliuma's accession; Freu 2007b: 207, 212-215 places these events after Å uppiluliuma's accession, as does Weeden 2022: 575-576.
  11.  Bryce 2005: 159-160 placing the marriage early in the reign; Freu 2007b: 244-245, 257-258 placing the marriage later in the reign.
  12.  Bryce 2005: 176-177 assuming the attackers were forces belonging to TuÅ¡ratta; Freu 2007b: 273-274 assuming the attackers were forces belonging to Artatama II and Å uttarna III, after the murder of TuÅ¡ratta.
  13.  Bryce 2005: 173-175; Freu 2007b: 249-256, 258-259; treaty of Å uppiluliuma with Aziru of Amurru translated by Beckman 1996: 37.
  14.  Klengel 1999: 168; Beckman 1997: 156; Bryce 2005: 188, 191; Freu 2007b: 298; Freu 2008: 19; Weeden 2022: 581-582.
  15.  I, the Sun by Janet Morris (biographical novel of Suppiluliuma I), Dell, 1983; Perseid Press, 2014
A full list of references for this article are available at the Šuppiluliuma I Wikipedia page

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