Ancient History - Part 38: Strength, Honor, and Respect

Shubbiluliuma came to the Hattic throne at 1400 B.C. and immediately sought to solve the longlasting problems which plagued his predecessor. He traveled by horse with his military into Cappadocia, fully restoring Hatti to its unquestionable seat of power. Admittedly, Hattushil faced an uphill battle with the set of challenges that plagued the latter part of his reign, but Shubbiluliuma displayed a level of strength in leadership that people could not help but find contagious.

With the hub of Cappadocia supporting his cause the young king next sought to resolve the Harrian Problem. A rival power that had opposed Hattushil congregated and took over the area of Kissuwadna. The initial clashes were bloody, but soon the local populace gave way to reason, and submitted to the greater power of the Hittite king's might. Kissuwadna and its people were not given a free pass, far from it, and the price for their revolt included increased taxes and the removal of their favored leaders from government.

And finally, the Tauric provincialities were beginning to develop sympathies with outside Hattan rivals, particularly Egypt and Assyria, whose traveling citizenry had now transformed into moderate migration. The prince who ruled one particular region, the westernmost of these states, Arzawa, preceded over what had effectively turned into an Egyptian proxy state. Knowing that if this potential issue was to exist as it stood, painful implications would threaten the remainder of the Hittite states, as the war-like Assyrians, in theory, might develop their own proxy state and as neighbors spelt out nothing less than death and destruction.

Arzawa was notable for having correspondence with Egypt, but the great king Shubbiluliuma did not let this dissuade him from what he needed to do. He fought and defeated the Arzawa state, fully absorbing it into Hattic power, expelling any foreigner, particularly those belonging to any nomadic tribe harboring semi-hostile sensibilities. And once all of this was accomplished, a message was sent to Egypt and Assyria where the boundaries lie and the internal issue with the Harri people also vanished simultaneously as Shubbiluliuma's Hittite kingdom kicked off the next millennia.

The overwhelming confidence by which certain leaders exude often rings peculiar to the eyes and ears of people looking to the past. But it stands so powerfully within the region of Asia Minor during this time of antiquity that might was often right, strength and power was respected, and he who made the least mistakes was welcomed as the greatest leader of men. It may be difficult for modern eyes to understand but this simple lesson puts on display that this was a time and place where the difference between a strong king and a weak king meant life or death, feast or famine, freedom or subjugation. 

And the Hittites rightfully and proudly decided: Shubbiluliuma was to be their strong king.

[An example of Arzawa stone art-relief of one of their local kings]