HISTORY
c.1700 – 1190 BCE
During the last part of the 3rd and the beginning of the 2nd millenium, there was taking place a large movement of Indo-Europeans into various parts of the Near East and Turkey. Those who moved into Anatolia displaced the indigent population known as the Hatti, ruling in their stead. There was much disruption in Anatolian as the small city-states warred among themselves, leaving many of the cities in ruins. It was into this power-vacuum that the newcomers came, bringing order with them.
By c.1800 BCE these new people ruled the Cappadocian plateau, and they were trading with the Assyrians. The invasion took place over several centuries, and was mostly peaceful. They simply moved in, displaced the old rulers, and carried on, making few abrupt changes in the local way of life. The peasants probably never felt the change. The newcomers intermarried with the locals, adopted many of their religious practices, and allowed business to continue as normal.
The first invasion by the Indo-European Hittites was under King Anittas, who sacked several cities, including Hattusas, and who made his capital near Kayseri. A gap exists after his rule, and the Hittite Empire is dated from the rebuilding of Hattusas by a successor, King Labarnas, around 1750 BCE. He changed his name to Hattusilis (Hattusilis I) and built a citadel-fortress at Hattusas. This termed the Old Kingdom, and a policy of expansion became the norm for the Hittites. His descendents crossed over the Taurus Mountains to the east and waged war on Assyria and Babylonia.
The Hittites settled near the source of the Tigris and the Euphrates, consolidated their forces behind a strong king, and became a force to be reckoned with. Within a few generations the Hittites were becoming a problem in north Syria and Mesopotamia. Under King Murcilis, (c.1620 – 1590 BCE), and with the help of the Kassites, the city of Aleppo was conquered, then the ancient city of Babylon. He ended the dynasty of Hammurabi in about 1595 BCE, and brought the culture of Mesopotamia to his home capital. Scribes were brought to Hattusas from Aleppo and a school was begun. From them they learned the cuneiform script, and the many cultural advances which follow a system of writing.
Under Mursilis I the Hittites became entrenched in north Syria, and were exacting tribute from many of the northern cities. The Kassites continued the rule in Babylon, eventually becoming indistinguishable from the Hittites in general. The Hittites built several palaces in the newly won Syrian cities, installed relatives of the Hittite King to rule, and reduced most of Syria to a state of vassalage. The yoke was light for the most part, and local rulers were left in charge of their areas, simply required to pay an annual tribute. The tribute requirement extended down into Palestine, Canaan at the time. They were required to pay a ‘price of peace’ tribute, amounting to a few gold shekels a year. It was around this time that Hittite forms of weapons and defense begin to appear in Palestine.
Now a gap appears in the record of the Hittites. King Mursilis I had been assassinated by his brother-in-law, touching off a series of palace revolts and murders. The Hittite Empire was thrown into chaos, and their power ebbed; it was the end of the Old Empire. The power vacuum allowed most of Cilicia to fall to the Hurrians, and there is on record a treaty signed between the Hittites and the kingdom of the Mitanni, to the east of the Hittites. During the middle of the 2nd millenium, around c.1650 – 1450 BCE, the Mitannian kingdom, part of the Hurrian Empire, was in it’s prime and much to powerful.
The Hittite Empire, however, was still a significant power in the area. The Empire stretched almost to the Aegean, in the west of Anatolia, and well into Mesopotamia in the east. It was during this time that the Egyptian Pharaoh Thothmes I appears in Syria, erects a monument, and gives history it’s first mention of the Empire of the Hittites. Then, during the reign of King Telepinus (c.1525-1500 BCE) the Hittite kingdom was deliberately downsized to make the kingdom easier to manage. Much of the western area was sacrificed, and all the territory east of the Taurus Mountains. Although this decline reduced their political influence, the Hittites were still a powerful kingdom.
King Telepinus was the last ruler of the Old Kingdom era. Then follows a period of about 60 years of decline, and the Hittites reconsolidate their position. Around 1450 BCE a new dynasty came to power which established the New Kingdom era. Tudhaliyas I conducted several campaigns east and west and, while victorious, the success did not last long. During the reign of Arnuwandas I, enemies pressed in from all sides, and the Hittites fought for their very survival. A new people, the Kaska, a barbarian tribe, came in from the north and occupied the south coast of the Black Sea. The Hurrians occupied the area between the Hittites and the Assryians (today’s Armenia), and fought against the Hittites incursions. The Hurrians, a tribe from south of the Caspian Sea (Iran), also ruled the kingdom of the Mitanni.
Then under King Suppilulimas I, c.1344-1322, the Hittites began to retake their former territories. Action against the Kaska and others who occupied the coast of the Black Sea was the first order of business, to secure their homeland. A long period of ‘mopping up’ at home, some twenty years, lapsed before Suppilulimas I turned to the east. The fortification and training must have impressed the Hurrians because they offered no battle. The Hittites recovered territory in Syria as far south as Damascus, but the Hurrians held the line at Carchemish on the Euphrates. This city at the time was an emporium and crossing point for the major route to Babylon.
The Hurrian king, Tushratta, put up some resistance at the city of Carchemish, but was then murdered in an internal revolt. Charchemish fell to the Hittites and a local prince was installed, one who was a vassal of the Hittites. He was also married to a Hittite Princess. Throughout Syria the local rulers who did not offer immediate homage to the Hittite king were replaced by those prepared to do so. This was representative of the Hittite Empire; a confederation of city-states bound by oath to the king of the Hittites, rather like a feudal form of government. An annual tribute was established and the local rulers were allowed broad freedom to rule as they wished. Other diplomatic marriages helped cement the bond between these foreign princes and the central authority.
Meanwhile the Egyptians were not all too happy about the Hittite presence in Syria, although Akhenaten did nothing to prevent it. After Akhenaton’s reign, Egypt was in internal chaos as a series of ineffectual rulers ascended the throne. One of these, Tutankhamun (1334-1325) was controlled by the chief priest of the god Amun, and he was probably killed in a palace coup of some sort when he reached an age to take personal control of Egypt. Then his widow wrote a letter to Suppilulimas I asking for one of his sons to come to Egypt, wed her, and become ruler of all Egypt. From this it is apparent that the Hittite Empire was held in very high esteem. Incidentally, King Suppilulimas’ son was apparently ambushed and killed on the way there.
When Mursilis II (1345-1315 BCE) ascended the throne he continued the consolidation of Syria. During this time the Hittite Empire extended toward the west, almost to the Aegean. They controlled Cappadocia, Cilicia, and many of the other kingdoms in the west recognized their suzerainty. The Lydian kingdom and the Troad in the west, with the Mitanni and others along the Euphrates in the east, offered homage. The larger cities of Syria, as Hamath, Carchemish, Kadesh and others were vassal city-states. Mursilis II also subdued a kingdom called ‘Arzawan’, with it’s capital Apasas. This city is tentatively identified with Ephesus, and if in fact true, then the Hittites reached the Aegean. The jury is still out on that, however.
A later Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramesses I (1293-1291 BCE), tried to push the Hittites back and was unsuccessful. His successor Seti I had a little better luck, but was finally forced to sign a treaty with Muwatallis (c.1300 BCE) leaving the Hittites in full control. The battle took place at Kadesh, and the records of the battle and the eventual treaty were celebrated as a victory in both kingdoms. The Hittites Empire was now at it’s peak, and there were military garrisons all over Syria to keep the peace and protect the caravan routes.
Between the years 1300-1200 BCE the Hittites and Egyptians warred upon one another until both were physically and financially drained. During this time the typical defense system of a sloping, paved ‘glacis’ was installed around the major cities. These were designed to prevent chariots and siege engines from being drawn up close to the walls. On the home front, the Hittites were fond of Cyclopean type masonry, or the using of very large stones at the base of a wall. They were excellent craftsmen, placing the stones together so tightly that they still remain today.
After the death of Muwatallis, his sole heir was a young son, Urhi-Teshub, who ascended the throne. But there was an uncle, the brother of Muwatallis, who had ruled the homeland while the father and brother were off in Syria on campaign. His name was Hattusilis III and he had earned his position as viceroy by defending the homeland. Apparently Urhi-Teshub and he did not get along, and problems increased between them until after seven years reign, Urhi-Teshub challenged Hattusilis’ right as viceroy. Hattusilis brought down the full power of his position as commander of the home army and had Urhi-Teshub deposed, and sent into exile.
Hattusilis III (1275-1250) shared the throne’s power with his wife Puduhepa, and both of them engaged in diplomacy with the neighboring kingdoms to maintain the peace. She carried on a correspondence with several Queens, especially the Queen of Egypt. To further the bond of peace between the two countries, a Hittite princess was given in marriage to the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramesses II. Hattusilis III also interfered in the politics of Babylon. There had been an alliance between him and the King of Babylon, Katachman-Turgu. Upon the death of the signatory, Hattusilis threatened to abrogate the treaty if the son of the deceased prince was not given the throne.
But Hattusilis III was the last strong ruler of the Hittite’s. And the Assryians were on the rise, making a strong ruler a necessity if the empire was to survive. He was followed by his son Tudhaliyas, of which we know little except that he was very interested in religion. It was probably he who ordered the relief carvings at Yazilikaya. The empire was deteriorating, and the way to ruin was hastened by his son Arnuwandas IV. Then his brother Suppiluliumas II took the reins and the deterioration continued. There is a record of a naval victory over Cyprus, but still the empire faded. During, or shortly after, his reign the capital city of Hattusas was sacked and burned, marking the end of the Hittite Empire, c.1200 BCE.
There were many causes for the empires end. A new power called the Phrygians were immigrating from the northwest. The incessant battles with Egypt had tapped the strength of the Hittites, who were unable to recover fully. And it was about this time the ‘Sea Peoples’ were invading all along the coast of the Mediterranean, from Egypt north along Palestine, and the south coast of Anatolia. And the Assryians were then coming into full strength, and would take over all of the Hittite Empire and more besides. But, very possibly, their loss of the secret of the smelting of iron may have been the biggest contributor to the demise of the Hittites.
The Hittites continued along in small fragments for several more centuries, but were then vassals of larger powers. Their homeland had been destroyed and taken by the Phrygians, then by Assyria. When the Assyrian king, Ashurnasirpal (885-860 BCE) conquered the rest of Syria, Carchemish bought off the king with a large bribe. Ashurnasirpal continued into Anatolia, and again was bought off, turning him toward Palestine. This was followed by his successor, Shalmaneser II (860- 825), and again the Hittites were forced to pay a heavy tribute towards peace, in about c.855 BCE.
One Hittite city, Carchemish, remained a thorn in the side of the Assryians until it’s fall in 717 BCE to Tiglath-Pileser III. It was the last city to fall, and the Hittites were absorbed into the other, newer kingdoms and forgotten by all. The Hittites were known by the Israelites as a strong, warlike peoples, and Hittite soldiers served under King David. Horses were purchased from the Hittites for shipment onward to Egypt.
*******
So What If someone in Anatolian region gained enough power in the time of the Assyrians,Babylonians , or The Persians to establish an powerful Kingdom that might survive untill today, or What If Charchemish never fell and succeded in become the rebirth of an new Hittite Empire.
c.1700 – 1190 BCE
During the last part of the 3rd and the beginning of the 2nd millenium, there was taking place a large movement of Indo-Europeans into various parts of the Near East and Turkey. Those who moved into Anatolia displaced the indigent population known as the Hatti, ruling in their stead. There was much disruption in Anatolian as the small city-states warred among themselves, leaving many of the cities in ruins. It was into this power-vacuum that the newcomers came, bringing order with them.
By c.1800 BCE these new people ruled the Cappadocian plateau, and they were trading with the Assyrians. The invasion took place over several centuries, and was mostly peaceful. They simply moved in, displaced the old rulers, and carried on, making few abrupt changes in the local way of life. The peasants probably never felt the change. The newcomers intermarried with the locals, adopted many of their religious practices, and allowed business to continue as normal.
The first invasion by the Indo-European Hittites was under King Anittas, who sacked several cities, including Hattusas, and who made his capital near Kayseri. A gap exists after his rule, and the Hittite Empire is dated from the rebuilding of Hattusas by a successor, King Labarnas, around 1750 BCE. He changed his name to Hattusilis (Hattusilis I) and built a citadel-fortress at Hattusas. This termed the Old Kingdom, and a policy of expansion became the norm for the Hittites. His descendents crossed over the Taurus Mountains to the east and waged war on Assyria and Babylonia.
The Hittites settled near the source of the Tigris and the Euphrates, consolidated their forces behind a strong king, and became a force to be reckoned with. Within a few generations the Hittites were becoming a problem in north Syria and Mesopotamia. Under King Murcilis, (c.1620 – 1590 BCE), and with the help of the Kassites, the city of Aleppo was conquered, then the ancient city of Babylon. He ended the dynasty of Hammurabi in about 1595 BCE, and brought the culture of Mesopotamia to his home capital. Scribes were brought to Hattusas from Aleppo and a school was begun. From them they learned the cuneiform script, and the many cultural advances which follow a system of writing.
Under Mursilis I the Hittites became entrenched in north Syria, and were exacting tribute from many of the northern cities. The Kassites continued the rule in Babylon, eventually becoming indistinguishable from the Hittites in general. The Hittites built several palaces in the newly won Syrian cities, installed relatives of the Hittite King to rule, and reduced most of Syria to a state of vassalage. The yoke was light for the most part, and local rulers were left in charge of their areas, simply required to pay an annual tribute. The tribute requirement extended down into Palestine, Canaan at the time. They were required to pay a ‘price of peace’ tribute, amounting to a few gold shekels a year. It was around this time that Hittite forms of weapons and defense begin to appear in Palestine.
Now a gap appears in the record of the Hittites. King Mursilis I had been assassinated by his brother-in-law, touching off a series of palace revolts and murders. The Hittite Empire was thrown into chaos, and their power ebbed; it was the end of the Old Empire. The power vacuum allowed most of Cilicia to fall to the Hurrians, and there is on record a treaty signed between the Hittites and the kingdom of the Mitanni, to the east of the Hittites. During the middle of the 2nd millenium, around c.1650 – 1450 BCE, the Mitannian kingdom, part of the Hurrian Empire, was in it’s prime and much to powerful.
The Hittite Empire, however, was still a significant power in the area. The Empire stretched almost to the Aegean, in the west of Anatolia, and well into Mesopotamia in the east. It was during this time that the Egyptian Pharaoh Thothmes I appears in Syria, erects a monument, and gives history it’s first mention of the Empire of the Hittites. Then, during the reign of King Telepinus (c.1525-1500 BCE) the Hittite kingdom was deliberately downsized to make the kingdom easier to manage. Much of the western area was sacrificed, and all the territory east of the Taurus Mountains. Although this decline reduced their political influence, the Hittites were still a powerful kingdom.
King Telepinus was the last ruler of the Old Kingdom era. Then follows a period of about 60 years of decline, and the Hittites reconsolidate their position. Around 1450 BCE a new dynasty came to power which established the New Kingdom era. Tudhaliyas I conducted several campaigns east and west and, while victorious, the success did not last long. During the reign of Arnuwandas I, enemies pressed in from all sides, and the Hittites fought for their very survival. A new people, the Kaska, a barbarian tribe, came in from the north and occupied the south coast of the Black Sea. The Hurrians occupied the area between the Hittites and the Assryians (today’s Armenia), and fought against the Hittites incursions. The Hurrians, a tribe from south of the Caspian Sea (Iran), also ruled the kingdom of the Mitanni.
Then under King Suppilulimas I, c.1344-1322, the Hittites began to retake their former territories. Action against the Kaska and others who occupied the coast of the Black Sea was the first order of business, to secure their homeland. A long period of ‘mopping up’ at home, some twenty years, lapsed before Suppilulimas I turned to the east. The fortification and training must have impressed the Hurrians because they offered no battle. The Hittites recovered territory in Syria as far south as Damascus, but the Hurrians held the line at Carchemish on the Euphrates. This city at the time was an emporium and crossing point for the major route to Babylon.
The Hurrian king, Tushratta, put up some resistance at the city of Carchemish, but was then murdered in an internal revolt. Charchemish fell to the Hittites and a local prince was installed, one who was a vassal of the Hittites. He was also married to a Hittite Princess. Throughout Syria the local rulers who did not offer immediate homage to the Hittite king were replaced by those prepared to do so. This was representative of the Hittite Empire; a confederation of city-states bound by oath to the king of the Hittites, rather like a feudal form of government. An annual tribute was established and the local rulers were allowed broad freedom to rule as they wished. Other diplomatic marriages helped cement the bond between these foreign princes and the central authority.
Meanwhile the Egyptians were not all too happy about the Hittite presence in Syria, although Akhenaten did nothing to prevent it. After Akhenaton’s reign, Egypt was in internal chaos as a series of ineffectual rulers ascended the throne. One of these, Tutankhamun (1334-1325) was controlled by the chief priest of the god Amun, and he was probably killed in a palace coup of some sort when he reached an age to take personal control of Egypt. Then his widow wrote a letter to Suppilulimas I asking for one of his sons to come to Egypt, wed her, and become ruler of all Egypt. From this it is apparent that the Hittite Empire was held in very high esteem. Incidentally, King Suppilulimas’ son was apparently ambushed and killed on the way there.
When Mursilis II (1345-1315 BCE) ascended the throne he continued the consolidation of Syria. During this time the Hittite Empire extended toward the west, almost to the Aegean. They controlled Cappadocia, Cilicia, and many of the other kingdoms in the west recognized their suzerainty. The Lydian kingdom and the Troad in the west, with the Mitanni and others along the Euphrates in the east, offered homage. The larger cities of Syria, as Hamath, Carchemish, Kadesh and others were vassal city-states. Mursilis II also subdued a kingdom called ‘Arzawan’, with it’s capital Apasas. This city is tentatively identified with Ephesus, and if in fact true, then the Hittites reached the Aegean. The jury is still out on that, however.
A later Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramesses I (1293-1291 BCE), tried to push the Hittites back and was unsuccessful. His successor Seti I had a little better luck, but was finally forced to sign a treaty with Muwatallis (c.1300 BCE) leaving the Hittites in full control. The battle took place at Kadesh, and the records of the battle and the eventual treaty were celebrated as a victory in both kingdoms. The Hittites Empire was now at it’s peak, and there were military garrisons all over Syria to keep the peace and protect the caravan routes.
Between the years 1300-1200 BCE the Hittites and Egyptians warred upon one another until both were physically and financially drained. During this time the typical defense system of a sloping, paved ‘glacis’ was installed around the major cities. These were designed to prevent chariots and siege engines from being drawn up close to the walls. On the home front, the Hittites were fond of Cyclopean type masonry, or the using of very large stones at the base of a wall. They were excellent craftsmen, placing the stones together so tightly that they still remain today.
After the death of Muwatallis, his sole heir was a young son, Urhi-Teshub, who ascended the throne. But there was an uncle, the brother of Muwatallis, who had ruled the homeland while the father and brother were off in Syria on campaign. His name was Hattusilis III and he had earned his position as viceroy by defending the homeland. Apparently Urhi-Teshub and he did not get along, and problems increased between them until after seven years reign, Urhi-Teshub challenged Hattusilis’ right as viceroy. Hattusilis brought down the full power of his position as commander of the home army and had Urhi-Teshub deposed, and sent into exile.
Hattusilis III (1275-1250) shared the throne’s power with his wife Puduhepa, and both of them engaged in diplomacy with the neighboring kingdoms to maintain the peace. She carried on a correspondence with several Queens, especially the Queen of Egypt. To further the bond of peace between the two countries, a Hittite princess was given in marriage to the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramesses II. Hattusilis III also interfered in the politics of Babylon. There had been an alliance between him and the King of Babylon, Katachman-Turgu. Upon the death of the signatory, Hattusilis threatened to abrogate the treaty if the son of the deceased prince was not given the throne.
But Hattusilis III was the last strong ruler of the Hittite’s. And the Assryians were on the rise, making a strong ruler a necessity if the empire was to survive. He was followed by his son Tudhaliyas, of which we know little except that he was very interested in religion. It was probably he who ordered the relief carvings at Yazilikaya. The empire was deteriorating, and the way to ruin was hastened by his son Arnuwandas IV. Then his brother Suppiluliumas II took the reins and the deterioration continued. There is a record of a naval victory over Cyprus, but still the empire faded. During, or shortly after, his reign the capital city of Hattusas was sacked and burned, marking the end of the Hittite Empire, c.1200 BCE.
There were many causes for the empires end. A new power called the Phrygians were immigrating from the northwest. The incessant battles with Egypt had tapped the strength of the Hittites, who were unable to recover fully. And it was about this time the ‘Sea Peoples’ were invading all along the coast of the Mediterranean, from Egypt north along Palestine, and the south coast of Anatolia. And the Assryians were then coming into full strength, and would take over all of the Hittite Empire and more besides. But, very possibly, their loss of the secret of the smelting of iron may have been the biggest contributor to the demise of the Hittites.
The Hittites continued along in small fragments for several more centuries, but were then vassals of larger powers. Their homeland had been destroyed and taken by the Phrygians, then by Assyria. When the Assyrian king, Ashurnasirpal (885-860 BCE) conquered the rest of Syria, Carchemish bought off the king with a large bribe. Ashurnasirpal continued into Anatolia, and again was bought off, turning him toward Palestine. This was followed by his successor, Shalmaneser II (860- 825), and again the Hittites were forced to pay a heavy tribute towards peace, in about c.855 BCE.
One Hittite city, Carchemish, remained a thorn in the side of the Assryians until it’s fall in 717 BCE to Tiglath-Pileser III. It was the last city to fall, and the Hittites were absorbed into the other, newer kingdoms and forgotten by all. The Hittites were known by the Israelites as a strong, warlike peoples, and Hittite soldiers served under King David. Horses were purchased from the Hittites for shipment onward to Egypt.
*******
So What If someone in Anatolian region gained enough power in the time of the Assyrians,Babylonians , or The Persians to establish an powerful Kingdom that might survive untill today, or What If Charchemish never fell and succeded in become the rebirth of an new Hittite Empire.
