Muwatalli II (also Muwatallis, or Muwatallish; meaning "mighty") was a king of the New Kingdom of the Hittite empire c. 1295–1282 (middle chronology) and 1295–1272 BC in the short chronology.

Early life and family

He was the eldest son of Mursili II and Queen Gassulawiya, and he had several siblings.

Muwatalli had a wife named Tanu-Ḫepa and at least two children. One was Urhi-Teshup, who became king as Mursili III until his uncle Hattusili III deposed him. Another was Kurunta who became the vassal ruler of Tarhuntassa during the reign of Hattusili III. Another person named Ulmi-Teshup is suggested to be a third son of Muwatalli II, but it is quite likely that Ulmi-Teshup and Kurunta are the same person.

Hattusili III was the younger brother of Muwatalli II.

Tudhaliya IV and Egyptian Queen Maathorneferure were the nephew and niece of Muwatalli.

Muwatalli's namesake, Muwatalli I, was a pre-Empire king of the early 14th century, the predecessor of Tudhaliya I.

Reign

He is best known for relocating the Hittite capital to Tarhuntassa, appointing his brother Hattusili as governor in Hattusa, and fighting Ramesses II in the Battle of Kadesh.

Egyptologists suspect that some time prior to Ramesses II's accession to the Egyptian throne, Muwattalli had reached an informal peace treaty or understanding with Seti I over Kadesh to avoid a clash between the two powers over control of Syria. In it, Seti effectively ceded Kadesh to the Hittite king in order to focus on domestic issues in Egypt.

Asia Minor

In Western Anatolia (Asia Minor), Muwatalli entered the Treaty of Muwattalli II and Alakšandu of Wiluša (CTH 76).

Move to Tarhuntassa

At the start of Muwatalli II's reign the capital of Hatti was Hattusa, located in the northern region of Anatolia. Not long after he came into power, he made the decision to move the capital to a new location, which he named Tarhuntassa. There is no documentation stating the reason why the capital was moved, but scholars, based on later texts written by his brother Hattusili III and the campaigns Muwatalli II fought, have come up with two possible reasons.

The first theory is that Muwatlli II moved the capital because of the border skirmishes between the Hittites and the Kaska, and later the rebellion by Piyamaradu. These disputes were on the northern border, and the capital of Hattusa is located near the northern border. After stabilizing the northern border, he moved the capital further south, to the new location of Tarhuntassa. This new location was not only further away from the troublesome northern border, but it was also strategically better for the upcoming fight against Egypt over Syria.

The second theory of why Muwatalli II moved his capital south is for religious reasons. Itamar Singer, in his essay "The Failed Reforms of Akhenaten and Muwatalli", states that the reason for the move had deeper roots in a religious reform, although he does acknowledge the political advantages of the move. The main evidence for this is how the depiction of the Storm God on his royal seals changes significantly after the expulsion of Danuhepa. Muwatalli II introduces a new motif for seals that is followed by all the Hittite kings that rule after him: the Umarmungsszene (German) (the protective embrace of the deity). This style is identifiable because it shows the king being embraced by one (or more) gods. In Muwatalli II's seals, he is being embraced by the Storm God of Lightning (Pihassassa) instead of the traditional Storm God of Heaven (Teshub).

This move would eventually lead to a bitter civil war after Muwatalli's death.

Sirkeli relief

thumb|On the west bank of the [[Ceyhan river near the village of Sirkeli (Sirkeli Höyük), a late Hittite rock relief reminds of the presence of the Hittites in the Çukurova (Cilician Plain). It shows the Hittite Great King Muwatalli II (1290–1272 BC).]]

The relief of Muwatalli II is located near Sirkeli Höyük, which is one of the largest settlement mounds in Plain Cilicia. The settlement is situated on the left bank of the Ceyhan River, known in ancient times as Puruna or Pyramos.

The inscription of the king mentions also the name of his father Mursili II: "Muwattalli, Great King, the Hero, son of Mursili, Great King, the Hero". He wears a long robe and, in his left hand, he holds the kalmus (lituus). The appearance of King Muwattalli is consistent with the way the Sun God of Heaven (Nepisas Istanu, or Simige) was portrayed in Hittite iconography; so this indicates deification. The second thing that makes this battle noteworthy is the tactics that Muwatalli II used against the Egyptian Army.

The general outline of the battle is this: Muwatlli II gathered his troops in northern Syria and sent out scouts and spies to ascertain the location of Ramesses II army. The spies reached Ramesses II and the division of Amun, when he was first approaching Kadesh. The spies, pretending to be deserters, gained the ear of Ramses II. They used this to convince him that the Hittite army was over hundred miles away in Aleppo. Ramses II admits to having heard the false reports of Muwatalli II's whereabouts, but when he discovers where Muwatalli II's forces really are, he claims that "His majesty slaughtered them in their places; they sprawled before his horses; and his majesty was alone, no other was with him." The Poem and Bulletin both end with Ramesses II winning a stunning victory over Muwatalli II and the Poem ends with Muwatalli signing a peace treaty with Ramesses II out of fear.

Despite the enthusiastic depiction of the battle by Ramesses II, scholars have concluded that the battle was a disaster for Ramesses II. This is because after the battle, Muwatalli II continued to expand into Syria and the Egyptian expansion was stopped in the area of Palestine.

Attestations

Muwatalli II is known from several texts.

  • CTH 75 Treaty of Muwattalli II with Talmi-Šarrumma of Aleppo
  • CTH 76 Treaty of Muwattalli II with Alakšandu of Wiluša
  • CTH 79 Memorandum to Muršili III.
  • CTH 381 Prayer of Muwattalli II to the Assembly of Gods
  • CTH 382 Prayer of Muwattalli II to the weather god of Kummanni

Family tree

See also

  • History of the Hittites

Notes

  • Reign of Muwatalli II
  • The failed reforms of Akhenaten and Muwatalli by Itamar Singer in British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (BMSAES) 6 (2006), pp. 37–58