Muwattalli II.

Muwattalli II. ( Hurrian birth name: Šarri-Teššub) was a Hittite great king who lived from approx. 1295/1294 to 1272 BC. Ruled.

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Muwattalli II., Rock relief in Sirkeli Höyük

Due to the relocation of the capital (and thus the archives) from Ḫattuša to a city in Tarḫuntašša (southern Anatolia ) that has not yet been precisely localized , we have so far only a few documents from the time of Muwattalli. The only rock relief that can certainly be related to him, which also shows him himself, is located near the Cilician coast in Sirkeli Höyük .

Life

Muwattalli was the son of the great king Muršili II and followed him to the throne after his death, although no unrest has been reported. Towards the end of the 14th century BC The Hittites were involved in several conflicts with the Egyptians . Both great powers fought to control Syria . This led under King Muwattalli to war with the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II , who moved Amurru , who had previously been a Hittite vassal, to apostate and supported him against the Hittites. Since the battle of Kadesch in 1274 BC BC could not bring a clear decision, concluded Muwattalli's brother Ḫattušili III. 1259 BC A peace treaty with Egypt . Friendly relations between the Hittites and Egyptians were concluded therein.

Muwattalli temporarily moved the capital of the Hittite Empire from Ḫattuša to Tarḫuntašša, possibly due to the uncomfortable proximity of Ḫattuša to the Kaškaers in the north or the better opportunities to control the southern viceroyalty. His successor Muršili III. led the capital back again.

For his brother Hattusili he set up a viceroyalty in the northern border town of Ḫakpiš .

In addition, Muwattalli concluded a contract with Alakšandu of Wiluša , which is often located in the Troas and equated with the Homeric Ilios . In this Alaksandu submits to the Hittites, for which they guarantee him and his descendants protection. This is probably an extension of the alliance system Muršilis II in western Asia Minor and was probably founded to protect against the Arzawian rebel Piyamaradu . Poorly preserved documents also attest to contacts with the Assyrian rulers.

family tree

The following family tree was created after publications by Volkert Haas and Jörg Klinger .

1. Ḫinti

2. Tawananna

Zida

Zannanza

1./2. Gaššulawiya

2nd / 3rd Danuḫepa

Mrs. Šattiwazzas

Mrs. Ammistamrus II.

literature

Jörg Klinger: The Hittites. Beck, Munich 2007, ISBN 3-406-53625-5 , pp. 89, 101-103, 105f, 108, 111f

Individual evidence

↑ Jörg Klinger, p. 102f
↑ Volkert Haas: The Hittite literature. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 2006, ISBN 978-3-11-018877-6 , page 91.
↑ Jörg Klinger: The Hittites. CH Beck, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-406-53625-0

predecessor	Office	successor
Muršili II.	Hittite great king around 1294 BC BC – 1272 BC Chr.	Muršili III.

personal data
SURNAME	Muwattalli II.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Hittite great king
DATE OF BIRTH	13th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH	13th century BC Chr.

[1] Jörg Klinger, p. 102f

[2] Volkert Haas: The Hittite literature. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 2006, ISBN 978-3-11-018877-6 , page 91.

[3] Jörg Klinger: The Hittites. CH Beck, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-406-53625-0