List of Hittite kings
Encyclopedia
The dating and sequence of the Hittite
kings is compiled from fragmentary records, supplemented by the recent find in Hattusa
of a cache of more than 3500 seal impressions giving names and titles and genealogy of Hittite kings. All dates given here are approximate, relying on synchronisms with known chronologies for neighbouring countries
and Egypt
. Little is known of the rulers of the Middle Kingdom period. The sequence here still largely follows Bryce (1998), but the short (or low) chronology is used. McMahon (1989) lists Hattusili II
and Tudhaliya III
in inverse order. Bryce, among others, does not distinguish a Middle Kingdom. Instead he ends the Old Kingdom with Muwatalli I and begins the New Kingdom with Tudhaliya I. Nor is Tudhaliya "the Younger" generally included in Hittite king lists, as he was assassinated upon the death of his father, Tudhaliya II.
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
kings is compiled from fragmentary records, supplemented by the recent find in Hattusa
Hattusa
Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. It was located near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızıl River ....
of a cache of more than 3500 seal impressions giving names and titles and genealogy of Hittite kings. All dates given here are approximate, relying on synchronisms with known chronologies for neighbouring countries
Chronology of the ancient Near East
The chronology of the Ancient Near East provides a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Individual inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers, taking forms like "in the year X of king Y". Thus by piecing together many...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Little is known of the rulers of the Middle Kingdom period. The sequence here still largely follows Bryce (1998), but the short (or low) chronology is used. McMahon (1989) lists Hattusili II
Hattusili II
Hattusili II may have been a king of the Hittite Empire ca. the early 14th century BC .His existence is disputed...
and Tudhaliya III
Tudhaliya III
Tudhaliya III was a short-lived king of the Hittite Empire ca. 1344 BC ; he may have been the son and successor of Hattusili II, however he is normally viewed as the son and immediate successor of Tudhaliya II . He is never explicitly known to have been king at all...
in inverse order. Bryce, among others, does not distinguish a Middle Kingdom. Instead he ends the Old Kingdom with Muwatalli I and begins the New Kingdom with Tudhaliya I. Nor is Tudhaliya "the Younger" generally included in Hittite king lists, as he was assassinated upon the death of his father, Tudhaliya II.
Hattic
| Ruler | Reigned | Lineage and Key events |
|---|---|---|
| Pamba Pamba (king) Pamba is the name of a king of the Hatti in the early 22nd century BC .Pamba's name is mentioned in a report of Naram-Suen of Akkad regarding a battle against an alliance of 17 kings, including Pamba, king of the Hatti, and Zipani, king of Kanesh... |
ca. early 22rd century BC (short) | king of Hatti |
| Pithana Pithana Pithana was a Hittite Bronze Age king of the Anatolian city Kussara. He reigned ca. the 17th century BC. During his reign he conquered the city of Kanesh, heart of the Assyrian trading colonies network in Anatolia and core of the Hittite speaking territories.... |
ca. 17th century BC (short) | king of Kussara Kussara Kussara was a city of Bronze Age south-eastern Anatolia. The rulers of Kuššara extended their authority over central Anatolia, conquering Hittite-speaking Kanesh, destroying the future Hittite capital of Hattusa, and subjugating territories as far north as the Black Sea.A man named Pithana is the... , conqueror of Neša Nesa Nesa may refer to:* Neša, ancient city in Anatolia* Nisa, Turkmenistan, also transliterated as Nesa* Nesa , a genus of gossamer-winged butterfliesThe acronym NESA can stand for:* NESA, the National Eagle Scout Association... |
| Piyusti Piyusti Piyusti or Piyušti was a king of Hattusa ca. the 17th century BC . He is mentioned in the Anitta text as being defeated by Anitta on at least two occasions. In the second encounter, Piyusti and his auxiliary troops were defeated at the town of Šalampa. Later, Anitta was able to storm the city of... |
ca. 17th century BC (short) | king of Hatti, defeated by Anitta |
| Anitta Anitta Anitta, son of Pithana, was a king of Kussara, a city that has yet to be identified. He is the earliest known ruler to compose a text in the Hittite language.- Biography :... |
ca. 17th century BC (short) | king of Kussara Kussara Kussara was a city of Bronze Age south-eastern Anatolia. The rulers of Kuššara extended their authority over central Anatolia, conquering Hittite-speaking Kanesh, destroying the future Hittite capital of Hattusa, and subjugating territories as far north as the Black Sea.A man named Pithana is the... , destroyer of Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. It was located near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızıl River .... |
| (Tudhaliya Tudhaliya Tudhaliya is the name of several Hittite kings*Tudhaliya is a hypothetic pre-Empire king of the Hittites. He would have reigned in the late 17th century BC . Forlanini conjectures that this king corresponds to the great-grandfather of Hattusili I.*Tudhaliya I , ruled ca... ) |
||
| (PU-Sarruma) |
Old Kingdom
| Ruler | Reigned | Lineage and key events |
|---|---|---|
| Labarna I | Traditional founder | |
| Hattusili I Hattusili I Hattusili I was a king of the Hittite Old Kingdom. He reigned ca. 1586–1556 BC .He used the title of Labarna at the beginning of his reign... a.k.a. Labarna II |
ca. 1586–1556 BC (short) | Nephew/grandson(?) of Labarna; perhaps the first ruler to reoccupy Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. It was located near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızıl River .... |
| Mursili I Mursili I Mursili I was a king of the Hittites ca. 1556–1526 BC , and was likely a grandson of his predecessor, Hattusili I. His sister was Harapšili.- Biography :... |
ca. 1556–1526 BC (short) | Grandson of Hattusili I; sacked Babylon Babylon Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad... , ca. 1531 |
| Hantili I Hantili I Hantili I was a king of the Hittites during the Hittite Old Kingdom. His reign lasted for 30 years, from c. 1526-1496 B.C.-Rise to power:According to the Telepinu Proclamation, Hantili was the royal cup-bearer to Mursili I, king of the Hittites. Hantili was married to Harapšili, Mursili's sister... |
ca. 1526–1496 BC (short) | Brother-in-law of Mursili I; assassinated Mursili I |
| Zidanta I Zidanta I Zidanta I was a king of the Hittites , ruling for 10 years, ca. 1496–1486 BC . According to the Edict of Telepinu, this king became a ruler by murder.- Biography :... |
ca. 1496–1486 BC (short) | Son-in-law of Hantili I; assassinated son/heir of Hantili I |
| Ammuna Ammuna Ammuna was a King of the Hittites ca. 1486–1466 BC . The land seems to have suffered badly during his reign, and he lost a considerable amount of territory.- Biography :... |
ca. 1486–1466 BC (short) | Son of Zidanta I; assassinated his father |
| Huzziya I Huzziya I Huzziya I was a king of the Hittites , ruling for 5 years, ca. 1466–1461 BC .- Biography :Huzziya was a son of Ammuna and grandson of Zidanta I. He was apparently not first in line to the succession. He had a sister and a brother-in-law, Telipinu.-External links:*... |
ca. 1466–1461 BC (short) | Son of Ammuna(?) |
| Telipinu | brother-in-law of Huzziya I; usurped the throne from Huzziya I | |
Middle Kingdom
Ruled ca. mid to late 15th century BC| Ruler | Reigned | Lineage and key events |
|---|---|---|
| Alluwamna Alluwamna Alluwamna was a king of the Hittites , ca. mid 15th century BC . He was a successor of Telepinu as his son-in-law.There is a seal of Alluwamna named Tabarna seal.... |
Son-in-law of Telipinu | |
| Hantili II Hantili II Hantili II was a king of the Hittites , ca. mid 15th century BC . He was a son of King Alluwamna. He is mentioned on the offering lists as a son of Alluwamna and was a friend of king Paddatiššu. Hantili's possible nephew was Zidanta II.-External links:*... |
ca. 1500-1450 B.C. | Son of Alluwamna |
| Tahurwaili Tahurwaili Tahurwaili was a king of the Hittites , ca. mid 15th century BC . He was a cousin of Telepinu.-External links:*... |
Usurper. Ruled sometime between Telipinu and Zidanta II, but otherwise time is uncertain. | |
| Zidanta II Zidanta II Zidanta II was a king of the Hittites , ca. late 15th century BC from 1480 to 1490 . He was probably a nephew of Hantili II. Zidanta made peace through the means of a parity treaty with a ruler named Pilliya, his counterpart in Kizzuwatna. This was the last parity treaty ever signed by a Hittite... |
Son(?) of Hantili II | |
| Huzziya II Huzziya II Huzziya II was a king of the Hittites. He was killed by Muwatalli I, who seized the throne and was possibly the Gal Mesedi of the royal bodyguard.-External links:*... |
Son(?) of Zidanta II | |
| Muwatalli I Muwatalli I - Biography :Muwatalli killed his predecessor Huzziya II. He was the Chief of the Royal Bodyguard of Huzziya, but later he killed him. He was maybe Huzziya's younger brother. Muwatalli's Chief of the Royal Bodyguard was called Muwa... |
Usurper; assassinated Huzziya II |
New Kingdom (Empire)
| Ruler | Reigned | Lineage and key events |
|---|---|---|
| Tudhaliya I Tudhaliya I Tudhaliya I was a king of the Hittite empire ca. the early 14th century BC .- Identity :... |
Lineage is uncertain; perhaps a grandson of Zidanta II. Became king after Muwatalli I was killed. | |
| Arnuwanda I Arnuwanda I Arnuwanda I was a king of the Hittite empire. He became a ruler by marriage and was very religious.- Biography :Arnuwanda became a king by marriage. His wife was Ašmu-nikal, daughter of king Tudhaliya I. He became a successor of Tudhaliya as his son-in-law. He began his reign under a co-regency... |
Son-in-law of Tudhaliya I | |
| Hattusili II Hattusili II Hattusili II may have been a king of the Hittite Empire ca. the early 14th century BC .His existence is disputed... (?) |
The existence, lineage and time of his reign is disputed. | |
| Tudhaliya II Tudhaliya II Tudhaliya II was a king of the Hittite empire ca. 1360? – 1344 BC .The Hittite empire suffered serious losses of territory during Tudhaliya's reign, with even the capital itself being burnt down... |
ca. 1360? – 1344 BC (short) | Son of Arnuwanda (or Hattusili II?), |
| Tudhaliya III Tudhaliya III Tudhaliya III was a short-lived king of the Hittite Empire ca. 1344 BC ; he may have been the son and successor of Hattusili II, however he is normally viewed as the son and immediate successor of Tudhaliya II . He is never explicitly known to have been king at all... "the Younger" |
Son of Tudhaliya II; assassinated upon his father's death; he may not have ruled at all. | |
| Suppiluliuma I Suppiluliuma I Suppiluliuma I was king of the Hittites . He achieved fame as a great warrior and statesman, successfully challenging the then-dominant Egyptian empire for control of the lands between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates.... |
ca. 1344–1322 BC (short) | Son of Tudhaliya II (or Hattusili II?); expanded the empire; mentioned in the Amarna letters Amarna letters The Amarna letters are an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru during the New Kingdom... |
| Arnuwanda II Arnuwanda II Arnuwanda II was a king of the Hittite Empire ca. 1322–1321 BC . He succeeded his father Suppiluliuma I, who succumbed to the plague which Egyptian captives from his Canaan campaign had brought with them to the Hittite heartland.... |
ca. 1322–1321 BC (short) | Son of Suppiluliuma |
| Mursili II Mursili II Mursili II was a king of the Hittite Empire ca. 1321–1295 BC .-Family:Mursili II was the younger son of Suppiluliuma I, one of the most powerful rulers of the Hittite Empire... |
ca. 1321–1295 BC (short) | Son of Suppiluliuma |
| Muwatalli II Muwatalli II Muwatalli II was a king of the New kingdom of the Hittite empire .- Biography :He was the eldest son of Mursili II and Queen Gassulawiya, and he had several siblings.... |
ca. 1295–1272 BC (short) | Son of Mursili II; Battle of Kadesh Battle of Kadesh The Battle of Kadesh took place between the forces of the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II at the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River, in what is now the Syrian Arab Republic.... , ca. 1274 |
| Mursili III Mursili III Mursili III, also known as Urhi-Teshub, was a king of the Hittites who assumed the throne of the Hittite empire at Tarhuntassa upon his father's death around 1272 BCE. He was a cousin of Tudhaliya IV and Queen Maathorneferure.- Biography :... a.k.a. Urhi-Teshub |
ca. 1272–1267 BC (short) | Son of Muwatalli II |
| Hattusili III Hattusili III Hattusili III was a king of the Hittite empire ca. 1267–1237 BC . He was the fourth and last son of Mursili II... |
ca. 1267–1237 BC (short) | Brother of Muwatalli II; treaty with Egypt Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty The Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty was concluded between Ramesses II and Hattušiliš III during year 21 of Ramesses rule; which according to most Egyptologists should be dated at around 1259 BCE... ca. 1258 |
| Tudhaliya IV Tudhaliya IV Tudhaliya IV was a king of the Hittite Empire , and the younger son of Hattusili III. He reigned ca. 1237 BCE–1209 BCE. His mother was called Puduhepa... |
ca. 1237–1209 BC (short) | Son of Hattusili III; Battle of Nihriya Battle of Nihriya The Battle of Nihriya was the culminating point of the hostilities between Hittites and Assyrians for control over the remnants of the former empire of Mitanni.... |
| Kurunta Kurunta Kurunta was an Anatolian tutelary deity in the Late Bronze Age frequently associated with stags. The Hittites typically wrote the name using the Sumerogram "dLAMMA"... |
ca. 1228–1227 BC (short) | Son of Muwatalli II; his reign is uncertain; may have ruled for a very brief time in the middle of Tudhaliya's reign. |
| Arnuwanda III Arnuwanda III Arnuwanda III was the penultimate king of the Hittite empire Arnuwanda III was the penultimate king of the Hittite empire (New kingdom) Arnuwanda III was the penultimate king of the Hittite empire (New kingdom) (ca. 1209–1207 BC (short chronology).- Family :Arnuwanda was a son of Tudhaliya IV and... |
ca. 1209–1207 BC (short) | Son of Tudhaliya IV |
| Suppiluliuma II Suppiluliuma II Suppiluliuma II, the son of Tudhaliya IV, was the last known king of the New Kingdom of the Hittite Empire, ruling ca. 1207–1178 BC , contemporary with Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria.... |
ca. 1207–1178 BC (short) | Son of Tudhaliya IV; fall of Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. It was located near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızıl River .... , ca. 1178 |
See also
- History of the HittitesHistory of the HittitesHittites were an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language and established a kingdom centered in Hattusa in northern Anatolia from the 18th century BC. In the 14th century BC, the Hittite Kingdom was at its height, encompassing central Anatolia, south-western Syria as far as Ugarit, and...
- Short chronology timelineShort chronology timelineThe short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the sack of Babylon to 1531 BC....