Suppiluliuma and the end of Mittani History 310 Discuss study guide for final Situation ca.

1344: Tushratta on throne in Mittani (had ruled for over 20 years) Burna-buriash on throne in Babylonia, son of Kadashman-Enlil Assur-uballit on throne in Assyria; might have recently gained independence from Mittani Akhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV) ruling in Egyptneglecting alliances, reforming the religion Letters still being written between kings In Hatti Tudhaliya II had been expanding Hittite empire. Died in 1344. Another Tudhaliya took the throne. His brother Suppiluliuma swore an oath to support him, but then had him murdered, along with brothers who had supported him. He was a general, probably popular, and he took the throne. Suppiluliuma: Received a letter from Akhenaten, confirming a continued alliance. Made a diplomatic marriage with a daughter of Burna-buriash. Soclosely allied with Babylonia and Egypt. Made an alliance with Artatama who wanted to rule Mittaniperhaps an agreement to give him the throne if Tushratta was overthrown.

It was at about this time that Assur-uballit managed to gain independence from Mittani and wrote to Egypt to forge an alliance. Mittani must have been feeling increasingly isolated. Tushrattas last letters to Egypt reflect thishe was not being treated like an ally. Hittite campaign against Mittani ca. 1340: Hittites attacked Mittani. First major military disruption of the peaceful alliance of the previous century. Tushratta wrote a letter in protestdiplomats were still negotiating even during warfare. Suppiluliuma campaigned through N. Syriaconquered Mittanian territories and brought them into Hittite empire. o Tried to win cities over with diplomacy before attacking them (e.g. Ugarit). o He went to the defense of cities against others, then created treaties

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making them vassals. Qatna was destroyed at this time: must have been conquered by Suppiluliuma. Attacked not just Mittanian territories but also lands in the Egyptian empire (ostensibly his ally): Kadesh and Amurrru. Amurru had been attacking neighboring lands, and Akhenaten had not intervened. King Aziru of Amurru was detained in Egypt for a year, but then went home and changed his allegianceswore to a treaty with Suppiluliuma.

* Discussion of Amurru/Hatti treaty in Pritchard 1336: death of Akhenaten 1327: request by Egyptian queen for a son of Suppiluliuma to marry, death of Hittite prince Suppiluliuma campaigned directly against Egypt in retaliation. But his troops caught the plague there and brought it back to Hatti. Tushratta was assassinated by one of his sons, around this time. His rival Artatama took the throne. Sent wealth to Assyria rather than to Hatti (against their agreement) Shattiwaza, son of Tushratta fled to Babylon but was almost killed there. Then he fled to Hatti. Suppiluliuma supported him against Artatama, but Shattiwaza had to agree to be a subject of Hatti. Shattiwaza married the daughter of the Hittite king. They fought against Mittani and Assyria and were victorious. Ended up with Mittani no longer being a great power. (Summarize subsequent developments: Hatti and Egypt at warending in 1274 with Battle of Kadesh; peace resumed; more discussion of military matters in subsequent correspondence; Sea Peoples attacked the Levant and Egypt; Hatti attacked by Kaska; end of major powers by ca. 1050 BCE)