Tudhaliya II (also Tudhaliya III; Hurrian name ''Tasmi-Sarri'') was a king of the
Hittite empire
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 ...
(New kingdom) c. 1380–1370 BC (
middle chronology
The chronology of the ancient Near East is a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Historical inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers: "in the year X of king Y". Com ...
)
or 1360? – 1344 BC (
short chronology
The chronology of the ancient Near East is a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Historical inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers: "in the year X of king Y". Com ...
). He was the son of King
Arnuwanda I
Arnuwanda I was a king of the Hittite Empire. He became a ruler by marriage and was very religious. He ruled c. 1390–1380 BC (middle chronology).
Biography
Arnuwanda became a king by marriage. His wife was Ašmu-nikal, daughter of king Tudha ...
and
Ašmu-nikal
Ašmu-nikal was a Queen consort of Hittite empire.
Biography
Ašmu-nikal was born as a princess, the daughter of King Tudhaliya I and Queen Nikal-mati. She married a man called Arnuwanda, who later became a king. She had two sons with him: P ...
.
Tudhaliya II also had a Hurrian name Tasmi-Sarri, in common with many other Hittite kings of that time, who also had Hurrian names. His queen was Tadu-Heba, which is also a Hurrian name. Their wedding ceremony is mentioned in many tablets from
Sapinuwa
Sapinuwa (sometimes Shapinuwa; Hittite: ''Šapinuwa'') was a Bronze Age Hittite city at the location of modern Ortaköy in the province Çorum in Turkey. It was one of the major Hittite religious and administrative centres, a military base an ...
, as well as from
Hattusa
Hattusa (also Ḫattuša or Hattusas ; Hittite: URU''Ḫa-at-tu-ša'', Turkish: Hattuşaş , Hattic: Hattush) was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. Its ruins lie near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of ...
.
[Karen Radner, Nadine Moeller, D. T. Potts, eds (2022)]
The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East: Volume III: From the Hyksos to the Late Second Millennium BC.
Oxford University Press - Dassow, p.570
Life
The Hittite empire suffered serious losses of territory during Tudhaliya's reign, with even the capital itself being burnt down. But, under the able guidance of Tudhaliya's son, the future
Suppiluliuma I, the Hittites began to make a recovery while Tudhaliya reigned.
The proper numbering of the Hittite rulers who bore the name Tudhaliya is problematic. There was a Hattian era figure who bore the name
Tudhaliya who may or may not have ruled as king. Other reconstructions insert a Tudhaliya directly after
Muwatalli I, but before the more famous ruler frequently credited with founding the Empire. The Tudhaliya discussed in this article will be generally found as either "the second" or "the third".
See also
*
History of the Hittites
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-cent ...
References
External links
Reign of Tudhaliya II (Tudhaliya III at this link)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tudhaliya 02
Hittite kings
14th-century BC people
ru:Тудхалия II