A Fragile Alliance Between Late Bronze Age Kings

Mittani King Tushratta Makes An Elaborate Request For Egyptian Gold

Jul 12, 2009

In a lengthy appeal, the King of Mittanni calls upon the binding love and friendship between himself and the Pharaoh to fuel Egyptian willingness to send him gold.

The historic relationship between the kingdom’s of Mittani and Egypt was foundational to the international community in the Near East during the Late Bronze Age. Political unrest in Mittani had undermined this relationship for a time, but the new Mittanni King, Tushratta (ca. 1372-1324 B.C.E.), began to make elaborate appeals for reconciliation. One such appeal is recorded in a letter from the Amarna Archive.

Reconciliation And An Pledge Of Friendship

This letter, Amarna Letter 19 (EA 19), provides a valuable insight into the mindset of the Great Kings of the Amarna Age. After beginning with a greeting typical to letters of this period, Tushratta goes on to identify the relationship between the two kings as one of “love and friendship.” The Mittani King then makes an interesting remark when he requests that the Pharaoh love him “ten times more than [his] father.”

It seems that by this time Egypt had already decided to begin reconciliation with Mittani. This is apparent when, in his letter, Tushratta mentions that the Egyptian messenger had requested, on behalf of the pharaoh, that a Mittani princess be sent as a bride to Egypt. The Mittani King makes it very clear he is happy and anxious to oblige. Furthermore, Tushratta tells Akhenaten that he has a fervent wish that the Pharaoh finds his daughter to be pleasing.

On The Subject Of Gold

The Mittani King then shifts the subject, and begins speak about the shipments of gold being sent from Egypt. Tushratta uses the same language he did to describe friendship as he does to describe this beneficial relationship. He expresses the wish that he will be sent “ten times the amount of gold as was sent to [his] father". The king goes on to explain that he is building a mausoleum for his grandfather, Artatama, who is believed to have ruled Mittani during the later half of the 15th century B.C.E., and requires gold for that purpose.

In an interesting twist, a rival to the Mittani throne, Artatama II, King of the Hurri, was active in Northern Mesopotamia at this time. Although this Artatama never managed to oust Tushratta from his coveted throne, his son, Shuttarna III, would eventually take the kingdom from Tushratta’s son, Shattizawa (ca. 1323 B.C.E.). Given this rivalry, the young king's need to establish himself as the caretaker of his dynastic ancestors became not just desirable for Tushratta, but a matter of political survival.

As a result, while Tushratta expresses joy that Egypt has agreed to reopen diplomatic relations with Mittani, the king continues to be very demanding in his requests for gold. He claims he has a specific need for “unworked gold”, and comments that the gold that was recently sent was just fine, even it was only a small quantity of “worked gold.” Tushratta then reissues his urgent request for large amounts of gold to be sent to Mittani right away.

A Fragile Alliance is Formed

Along with the letter, the Mittani King dispatches his Chief Minister, Keliya, to Egypt to find out how the Pharaoh will respond and, hopefully, to return quickly with good news. He makes a point of reminding the Pharaoh that their relationship is right now is one of friendship and love, and that this is how it should always continue. Tushratta tells Akhenaten that he hopes that his request for gold does not distress the Pharaoh, and that he also hopes to not be distressed in turn.

Following with the typical format of the Amarna Letters Tushratta concludes with an offering of “greeting gifts.” This offering however is notably generous. A number of ornate necklaces made of gold and covered with lapis lazuli and other precious stones are listed as well as ten wooden chariots and teams of horses. In a grand gesture, Tushratta also sends along 30 men and women, who were possibly young servants from his own household, as an additional gift for the pharaoh.

The proposed marriage would eventually occur and, for a time, relations would continue as Tushratta desired. However, Mittani would soon be faced with a resurgent Hittite enemy while Egypt, mired in its own turmoil, would be powerless to help. In the end, the two dynasties that had grown to power together would fall apart separately.

Moran, William, The Amarna Letters, (Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992)

Roaf, Michael, Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia, (Andromeda, Oxfordshire, 2004.)

Shaw, Ian. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003.)

The copyright of the article A Fragile Alliance Between Late Bronze Age Kings in Near Eastern History is owned by Robert McRoberts. Permission to republish A Fragile Alliance Between Late Bronze Age Kings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.