Diplomatic Tension In The Late Bronze Age

Akhenaten's Sparse Gift Of Egyptian Gold Embarasses A Mittani King

Jul 12, 2009

Although the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten had requested a Mittani princess to marry, Tushratta complains that he seems unwilling or unable to send adequate gifts of gold

By the time that Amarna Age had reached its Zenith, King Tushratta of Mittani had already been rebuilding his alliance with Egypt for some time. We can clearly see the development of this reconciliation by referring to a trove of diplomatic correspondence that was found at Tel el Amarna in Egypt that has come to be known as the Amarna Letters. Within these ancient tablets, sent to Egypt from fellow Late Bronze Age monarchs, lies the story of the renewed alliance between the kingdoms of Mittani and Egypt, and the negotiations for a royal marriage that would cement that relationship.

A Diplomatic Marriage Between Mittani and Egypt.

The negotiations for the marriage of Tadukhipa, daughter of the Mittai King Tushratta (c1372-1324 B.C.E.) to the Egyptian Pharaoh Amunhotep IV/Akhenaten (c1353-1335 B.C.E.) had been finalized, and preparations for a royal wedding had begun. Amarna Letter 20 (EA20) shows that an official named Mane, sent from the Egyptian court of Akhenaten, had arrived in Mittani with soldiers to escort a daughter of the King to her awaiting bridegroom. However, it seems that there was to be a slight delay before the princess could be sent, so Tushratta dispatched Haaramashshi, a man known to the Pharaoh, with a message explaining the situation.

A Slight Delay

In his letter, EA20, Tushratta tells Akhenaten that, although he is prepared to send his daughter within six months, there has already been a delay. While the translation of the letter is not entirely clear, Tushratta appears to blame this delay on the unexpected speed at which the renewal of this alliance between the two kingdoms has come about. Although Tushratta is willing to send his daughter, he admits to not being entirely prepared to do so.

There are indications in Tushratta's letter that preparations for certain formalities have yet to be made. The King of Mittani notes that the princess herself is well prepared, as is her dowry, which has been increased tenfold. However, the effort needed to prepare the goods needed to properly honor his Brother King has forced Tushratta to postpone other necessary “work”, which now must be addressed.

Tushratta Complains About Gold

King Tushratta then tells Akhenaten that he has a problem. It seems that when he had opened the last shipment of Egyptian gold in full view of all his foreign guests, the poor amount and quality of the gold had caused the onlookers to “[weep] very much". Tushratta lets the Pharaoh know that he was humiliated by this obvious slight and reminds Akhenaten that everyone knows “gold is more plentiful than dirt in Egypt.” When he was asked by his guests if the Pharaoh still loved him, Tushratta tells Akenaten that he said no.

Admitting his own distress over the situation and the need to even mention it, the Mittani King now apologizes to the Pharaoh for causing him any distress in turn. Tushratta explains that even though now he must beg forgiveness for complaining, he felt it was important that the Pharaoh know of the humiliation he felt when he opened the inferior gold Egypt had sent him.

Next, Tushratta informs the the Egyptian Pharaoh that his diplomatic envoy, Mane, and the soldiers he sent are all fine and being treated well. This may be considered a common courtesy, or could be construed as a hint that these Egyptians could go from being guests to hostage if current negotiations unraveled. At the time this message was sent however, Tushratta assures the Pharaoh that if asked his people would say they were treated, “just as required.”

New Request for "Unworked Gold"

Following a renewed pledges of friendship, the Mittani King makes a new request for “unworked gold”. There are indications that Egypt had once regularly sent large quantities of “unworked gold” to Mittani, but now for some unexplained reason, only items made of, or items covered with gold were being sent. Tushratta states plainly that such a shipment of "unworked gold" from Egypt will, “glorify [him] before his country and his foreign guests.”

This letter from Tushratta then goes on to list the traditional “greeting gifts” that the Mittani king is sending to Egypt along with his messenger, Haaramashshi. Although this part of the tablet is badly damaged, the remaining fragments tell of an ornate treasure. For instance, one item on the list is described as a “rope lock” with a large gold encrusted precious stone attached. Another item is described as being lavishly decorated with beads of precious stone set in gold and was designed to be worn on the hand, although its exact form is obscured.

It is evident from future writings that the Mittani King, Tushratta, was eventually appeased and that his daughter, Tadukhipa, would be sent to Egypt to marry Akhenaten. Along with her would go a fantastic dowry, a lavish escort, and the hopes of a dynasty. For a time, Tushratta would be able to address the Egyptian Pharaoh as his son-in-law, and win the admiration of his foreign detractors. But, in the end, that prestige, and any Egyptian gold that came with it, could not stave off Mittani’s rapid decline and the end of the Kingdom.

Bryce, Trevor, Kingdom of the Hittites, (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2005)

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 Diplomatic Tension In The Late Bronze Age in Near Eastern History is owned by Robert McRoberts. Permission to republish Diplomatic Tension In The Late Bronze Age in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.