Ancient History - Part 42: Hail To The King

After defeating Hanigalbat and her Mitanni, Shubbiluliuma returned to Syria with his soldiers to attack the last holdout, Aleppo, whose level of national will kept the prince's city independent up until that point. But Shubbiluliuma's army had grown so large compared to his early raids upon Syria, that this time, they'd little opposition and marched right into the heart of the city. Whether by means of migration or war, the nations of the Near East has a history of knowing no borders, nor the concept of freedom for other peoples.

With both rivals (Egypt & Hanigalbat) removed, Shubbiluliuma continued to conquer and impose his imperial rule over Syria in many steps:

1. Kingdom of Niy: A largely Semitic population bordering southern Hanigalbat, a regional prince, Shutatarra, refused Shubbiluliuma's offer to show allegiance. Thus, the son, Aitakkama, killed his father (much in the same manner as the Mitanni king was slain by his own) and became a loyal agent to the Hattic king. Aitakkama actually led the attacks for Shubbiluliuma upon the Mitanni, with many successful raids persisting against Tushratta's successor.
2. Tunip: A once Egyptian territory was taken by the Hittites, and the labors of the farms and fisheries spread to the benefit of the Hattic kingdom. Decadence and fear had spread across Egypt, weaknesses Shubbiluliuma sensed and correctly predicted no significant retaliation.
3. Province of Kilis: The regional prince, Sharrupshi, remained loyal to his Egyptian suzerain, but that all changed once Aleppo fell. Just neighboring Aleppo at the northwest, rather than repeat the cycle of violent sieges for his cities to endure, he'd signed a treaty, bowing down his region to the Hattic king.
4. Lebanon: This wealthy swath of land's Egyptian/Mitannian overlords had abandoned this region and rather than taste freedom, the Semitic peoples traded one familiar group of overlords for unfamiliar new group.

The Hattic king effectively disseminated the elite feudal-style ruling system that Egypt had set-up over Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria and quickly replaced the old with the new, inserting their own people as the ones bearing the whip. Whilst not making it as far as Palestine (still under Egyptian control) Shubbiluliuma still pushed against against defenses for as long as he could.

[SIGNED TREATY - Between Sharrupshi and Shubbiluliuma]