The ''gal gestin'' was a Hittite military and administrative

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

literally meaning "chief of the wine stewards". It is considered to be one of the most important and prestigious posts of the

Hittite Kingdom The Hittites () were an Anatolian people who played an important role in establishing first a kingdom in Kussara (before 1750 BC), then the Kanesh or Nesha kingdom (c. 1750–1650 BC), and next an empire centered on Hattusa in north-centr ...

History

As a ''gal gestin'' a commander was personally responsible for the safety of the

king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

. In most cases he was a member of the royal family and usually the brother of the king. A ''gal gestin'' would at times also participate in

festival A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival ...

s, while like the ''

gal mesedi The ''gal mesedi'' was a Hittite military and administrative title literally meaning "chief of the royal bodyguards". He was in charge of the Mesedi, the personal bodyguard of the Hittite king.Burney p.234-235 It is considered to be one of the mos ...

'' he could command troops independent from the monarch's jurisdiction.Beal p.356

Sources

;Notes ;References * * {{italic title Military ranks Hittite titles