Ar-Halba ( ''Arḫalbá'', 𒋧𒄬𒁀 ''Ariḫalba'') was a King of
Ugarit
Ugarit (; , ''ủgrt'' /ʾUgarītu/) was an ancient port city in northern Syria about 10 kilometers north of modern Latakia. At its height it ruled an area roughly equivalent to the modern Latakia Governorate. It was discovered by accident in 19 ...
, an
Ancient Syria
The history of Syria covers events which occurred on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic and events which occurred in the region of Syria. Throughout ancient times the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic was occupied and ruled by severa ...
n city state in northwestern Syria.
Reign
He was the (son and) successor of
Niqmaddu II
Niqmaddu II was the second ruler and king of Ugarit, an ancient Syrian city-state in northwestern Syria (c. 1350–1315 BC) and succeeding his father, Ammittamru I. He was a vassal ruler of Suppiluliuma I of Hatti.
Early life
Niqmaddu II ( ''Ní ...
.
[ He reigning for no less than two years,]Mursili II There were three Hittite kings called Mursili:
* Mursili I, ca. 1556–1526 BCE ( short chronology), and was likely a grandson of his predecessor, Hattusili I. His sister was Ḫarapšili and his wife was queen Kali.
* Mursili II, (also spelled Mur ...
of Hatti.
Very little is known about his short reign, as he is only mentioned in six juridical texts. The one that gives the most information about him is his 'Last will', where he warns his brothers not to marry his wife Kubaba after his death, contrary to the levirate custom. The intriguing letter gave room to plenty of speculation about him, with his non-Semitic name that stands out amongst all Ugaritan kings further enhancing the mystery, with some even suggesting that he was not the legitimate heir to the throne.[
Later on, he was supposedly forced by the Hittite king ]Mursili II There were three Hittite kings called Mursili:
* Mursili I, ca. 1556–1526 BCE ( short chronology), and was likely a grandson of his predecessor, Hattusili I. His sister was Ḫarapšili and his wife was queen Kali.
* Mursili II, (also spelled Mur ...
to abdicate the throne, in favour of his brother, Niqmepa.[ He was probably sent to exile afterwards.][
In Tablet 16.144 King Arhalbu forbade anyone who succeeded him to marry his widow, by taking her away from his brother, who was to wed her according to levirate custom.][Gordon 1956:130]
References
Bibliography
*GORDON, C. H. (1956). OBSERVATIONS ON THE AKKADIAN TABLETS FROM UGARIT. Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie Orientale, 50(3), 127–133. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23295232
Ugaritic kings
14th-century BC people
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