Piyashshili
Encyclopedia
Piyassili was a Hittite
prince, and a middle son of King Suppiluliuma I
; younger than the heir Arnuwanda II
, but older than the eventual successor Mursili II
and probably older than the doomed Zannanza
too. After Suppiluliuma I concluded a treaty with Shattiwazza, son of King Tushratta
of Mitanni
, and married one of his daughters to him, Piyassili led a Hittite army that put Shattiwazza on the throne of Hanigalbat. According to Hittite sources, Piyashshili and Shattiwazza crossed the Euphrates
at Carchemish
, then marched against Irridu, already in Hurrian territory. After having reduced Irridu and Harran
, they continued east towards Washshukanni and perhaps conquered the capital Taite
as well.
After Shattiwazza had been made a vassal ruler of Hanigalbat, Suppiluliuma gave to Piyassili the Akkadian name Sarri-Kusuh and the territory of Ashtata (with the cities of Ekalte, Ahuna and Terqa
) and Carchemish
, formerly belonging to Hanigalbat. "And all of the cities of the land of Carchemish, Murmurik, Shipri, Mazuwati and Šurun – these fortified cities– I gave to my son." (Suppililiuma-Shattiwazza treaty § 13). In fact, the whole former territory of Hanigabat west of the Euphrates seems to have come under direct Hittite rule and was governed by Piyashshili.
When the Egyptians attacked Kadesh
(Kinza), Suppililiuma besieged and retook the town. The people were deported and Suppililiuma made Piyashshili governor of that town as well. Still bearing the name "Sarri-Kusuh", in ca. 1320 BC Piyashshili came to Mursili's aid in the campaign against Arzawa
. Piyassili then returned to Carchemish.
Piyashshili fell ill and died before year 9 of Mursili II
. After his death, a rebellion broke out in Kadesh and Nuhashshe. After it had been quelled, Piyassili's son was made king of Carchemish by his uncle Mursili 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...
prince, and a middle son of King 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....
; younger than the heir 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....
, but older than the eventual successor 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...
and probably older than the doomed Zannanza
Zannanza
Prince Zannanza was a son of Suppiluliuma I, king of the Hittites. He is best known for almost becoming the Pharaoh of Egypt, and because his death caused a diplomatic incident between the Hittite and Egyptian Empires, that resulted in warfare.The Egyptian Queen Dakhamunzu, who could have been...
too. After Suppiluliuma I concluded a treaty with Shattiwazza, son of King Tushratta
Tushratta
Tushratta was a king of Mitanni at the end of the reign of Amenhotep III and throughout the reign of Akhenaten -- approximately the late 14th century BC. He was the son of Shuttarna II...
of Mitanni
Mitanni
Mitanni or Hanigalbat was a loosely organized Hurrian-speaking state in northern Syria and south-east Anatolia from ca. 1500 BC–1300 BC...
, and married one of his daughters to him, Piyassili led a Hittite army that put Shattiwazza on the throne of Hanigalbat. According to Hittite sources, Piyashshili and Shattiwazza crossed the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
at Carchemish
Carchemish
Carchemish or Kargamış was an important ancient city of the Mitanni, Hittite and Neo Assyrian Empires, now on the frontier between Turkey and Syria. It was the location of an important battle between the Babylonians and Egyptians, mentioned in the Bible...
, then marched against Irridu, already in Hurrian territory. After having reduced Irridu and Harran
Harran
Harran was a major ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia whose site is near the modern village of Altınbaşak, Turkey, 24 miles southeast of Şanlıurfa...
, they continued east towards Washshukanni and perhaps conquered the capital Taite
Taite
Taite was one of the capitals of the Mitanni Empire. Its exact location is still unknown, although it is speculated to be in the Khabur region...
as well.
After Shattiwazza had been made a vassal ruler of Hanigalbat, Suppiluliuma gave to Piyassili the Akkadian name Sarri-Kusuh and the territory of Ashtata (with the cities of Ekalte, Ahuna and Terqa
Terqa
Terqa is the name of an ancient city discovered at the site of Tell Ashara on the banks of the middle Euphrates in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria, approximately 80 km from the modern border with Iraq...
) and Carchemish
Carchemish
Carchemish or Kargamış was an important ancient city of the Mitanni, Hittite and Neo Assyrian Empires, now on the frontier between Turkey and Syria. It was the location of an important battle between the Babylonians and Egyptians, mentioned in the Bible...
, formerly belonging to Hanigalbat. "And all of the cities of the land of Carchemish, Murmurik, Shipri, Mazuwati and Šurun – these fortified cities– I gave to my son." (Suppililiuma-Shattiwazza treaty § 13). In fact, the whole former territory of Hanigabat west of the Euphrates seems to have come under direct Hittite rule and was governed by Piyashshili.
When the Egyptians attacked Kadesh
Kadesh
This article is about Kadesh in the lands of the Amurru, bordering on Damascus Syria up to Hammath; see also Kadesh or Kedesh Kadesh was an ancient city of the Levant, located on or near the headwaters or ford of the Orontes River...
(Kinza), Suppililiuma besieged and retook the town. The people were deported and Suppililiuma made Piyashshili governor of that town as well. Still bearing the name "Sarri-Kusuh", in ca. 1320 BC Piyashshili came to Mursili's aid in the campaign against Arzawa
Arzawa
Arzawa in the second half of the second millennium BC was the name of a region and a political entity in Western Anatolia, the core area of which was centered on the Hermos and Maeander river valleys, corresponding with the Late Bronze Age kingdoms of the...
. Piyassili then returned to Carchemish.
Piyashshili fell ill and died before year 9 of 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...
. After his death, a rebellion broke out in Kadesh and Nuhashshe. After it had been quelled, Piyassili's son was made king of Carchemish by his uncle Mursili II.