Arnuwanda I 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-cent ...
. He became a ruler by marriage and was very religious. He ruled c. 1390–1380 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 ...
).
Biography
Arnuwanda became a king by marriage. His wife was
Ašmu-nikal, daughter of king
Tudhaliya I (also known as Tudhaliya I/II). He became a successor of Tudhaliya as his son-in-law. He began his reign under a co-regency with Tudhaliya.
During his time, the kingdom suffered what is known as the period of ‘concentric invasions’, when they were surrounded on all sides by enemies. A major enemy was the kingdom of
Arzawa
Arzawa was a region and a political entity (a " kingdom" or a federation of local powers) in Western Anatolia in the second half of the 2nd millennium BC (roughly from the late 15th century BC until the beginning of the 12th century BC). The core ...
in the southwest. Arnuwanda may have led an unsuccessful expedition against Arzawa.
At the time, Arzawa was led by king
Tarhuntaradu, who was corresponding with the Egyptian Pharaoh
Amenhotep III. Tarhuntaradu was a powerful leader, and the Egyptians clearly saw Arzawa as capable of controlling that whole area.
Hattusa was sacked, and the court had to move to a temporary base, probably at
Samuha. But later, under
Suppiluliuma I, many of those losses were reversed.
According to Kuhrt (2020),
Tudhaliya III was the successor of Arnuwanda I. Since several scholars refer to him also as Tudhaliya II, he can also be described as Tudhaliya II/III. Further,
Suppiluliuma I was the son and eventual heir of Tudhaliya II/III.
Family
Arnuwanda's parents are not known. He was a son-in-law of Tudhaliya and
Nikal-mati. He had two sons, prince
Ašmi-Šarruma and king
Tudhaliya II (or II/III). There is a very fragmentary text in which Arnuwanda names his son Tudhaliya as his future successor.
Gallery
File:Prayers of Arnuwanda and Asmu-Nikkal, 14th century BC, from Hattusa, Istanbul Archaeological Museum.jpg, Prayers of Arnuwanda and Asmu-Nikkal, 14th century BC, from Hattusa, Istanbul Archaeological Museum
File:Gifts given by Arnuwanda and Asmu-Nikkal, 14th century BC, from Hattusa, Istanbul Archaeological Museum.jpg, Gifts given by Arnuwanda and Asmu-Nikkal, 14th century BC, from Hattusa, Istanbul Archaeological Museum
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-centr ...
*
Madduwatta
References
External links
Reign of Arnuwanda I
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arnuwanda 01
Hittite kings
14th-century BC rulers