Tudḫaliya IV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Tudhaliya IV)
Tudhaliya IV
Depiction of Tudhaliya IV on a relief
King of the Hittites
Reignc. 1245–1215 BC
PredecessorHattusili III
SuccessorArnuwanda III
IssueArnuwanda III
Suppiluliuma II
FatherHattusili III, son of Mursili II
MotherPuduhepa
ReligionHittite religion
Bronze tablet from Boğazköy testifying to the treaty between Tudhaliya IV and Kurunta of Tarhuntassa (1235 BC). Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Tudhaliya IV was a king of the Hittite Empire (New kingdom), and the younger son of Hattusili III. He reigned c. 1245–1215 BC (middle chronology)[1] or c. 1237–1209 BC (short chronology). His mother was the great queen, Puduhepa.

Early Life[edit]

Tudhaliya was likely born in his father's court in Hattusa, after his brother and crown prince Nerikkaili, but still while their father was governing on his brother Muwatalli II's behalf. He was a good friend of Muwatalli's son, Kurunta, and Hattusili ordered that they stay on good terms.

After Hattusili as King wrote up a treaty with "Ulmi-Tessup" which confirmed Kurunta's rule over Tarhuntassa, Hattusili elevated Tudhaliya over his older brother to be his crown prince. Tudhaliya as king drew up a bronze tablet treaty confirming the links between him and Kurunta.

Tudhaliya had a sister, Maathorneferure, who served as Great Royal Wife to Pharaoh Ramesses II of Egypt.

Reign[edit]

The Hittite Empire covered large parts of Anatolia and Syria. Climate change set with drier conditions that caused a severe drought. Tudhaliya IV responded by building at least 13 dams to secure water supplies, one of which still survives to this day at Alacahöyük.[1]

In the East, Tudhaliya IV faced the rival Assyrians. He suffered a severe defeat at the hands of Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria in the Battle of Nihriya, c. 1237 BC.

Tudḫaliya, king of the Hittites, was reeling from defeat by the Assyrians at the Battle of Nihriya, refers to the Babylonian king as his equal, in his treaty with his vassal, Šaušgamuwa of Amurru, hinting at the possible existence of an alliance or at least a tacit understanding between them.[2] It reads:

The kings who are equal to me (are) the king of Egypt, the king of Karanduniya (Babylon), the king of Assyria <and the king of Aḫḫiyawa>.
And if the king of Karanduniya is My Majesty's friend, he shall also be your friend; but if he is My Majesty's enemy, he shall also be your enemy.
Since the king of Assyria is My Majesty's enemy he shall also be your enemy.
Your merchant shall not enter into Assyria and you shall not allow his merchant into your land. He shall not pass through your land.
But if he enters into your land, you should seize him and send him off to My Majesty.[3]

— Treaty between Tudḫaliya and Šaušgamuwa, Tablet A, column IV, lines 1-18 edited

In the Southwest, the empire had been divided with parts of the territory controlled by Kurunta of Tarhuntassa.

He had two sons, Arnuwanda III and Suppiluiuma II, who were the final two kings of the Hittite Empire.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kuhrt, Amélie (2020). The Ancient Near East: c.3000–330 BC, Volume One. Routledge. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-136-75548-4.
  2. ^ Trevor Bryce (2005). The Kingdom of the Hittites. Oxford University Press. pp. 494, 318.
  3. ^ Itamar Singer (2003). "Treaties". In William W. Hallo (ed.). The Context of Scripture: Volume II: Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical World. Brill. p. 99.

External links[edit]

Regnal titles
Preceded by Hittite king Succeeded by