KIZZZUWATNA

It is difficult to determine exactly when the Kizzuwatna Civilization was founded, as most descriptions come from treaties created by the Hittites, Mitanni, or Egyptians who largely dominated the region at the time. The earliest mention of Kizzuwatna’s Kingdom developed around 1600 BCE. These accounts mention the kingdom in Adaniya, or modern-day Adana [i]. The kingdom was multiethnic with Hittites, Hurrians, and Luwians all living in the area, though over time, the Hittite and Hurrian cultures gained prominence over the Luwian culture and language, likely from migration [ii]. Kizzuwatna was ultimately conquered by the expanding Hittite Kingdom [iii] to the West in 1400 BCE.

The Kizzuwatna Civilization was frequently at the mercy of the many larger kingdoms that surrounded it. The Hittite Kingdom to the Northwest often held Kizzuwatna as a vassal [vi]. Likewise, the Mitanni Dynasty to the East contested this area due to its strategic importance as a passage area from Syria to the South, and Anatolia to the North. At this time, Egypt also controlled much of the Levant region and frequently came into conflict with the Hatti Empire, which often included the Kizzuwatna Civilization. Such was the case for the Battle of Kadesh [vii] and the treaty that resulted from the battle’s culmination.

Unfortunately, not much is known about how the Kizzuwatna Civilization has influenced the modern world, as the small kingdom is outshone in history and recorded by its more powerful neighbors. Still, the kingdom did play a key role in the Battle of Kadesh, which is especially significant in its resulting treaty between Hattusa and Egypt. This treaty went on to be a direct precursor to modern treaties [iv]. Following this treaty, the king of Hattusa, Huttusili III, married Puduhepa of Kizzuwatna who introduced elements of the Kizzuwatanean religion to Hattusa and continued to exercise a great deal of power [v] over Hattusa.

Kizzuwatna was led by a monarchy, though information on Kizzuwatna’s kings comes only from records of treaties with neighboring kingdoms. One of the earliest kings, Isputahsu [viii], is thought to be one of the first to hold the title of “Great King” in Kizzuwatna and held equal stature to the Hittite king of the time through an equality treaty [ix]. Because the only records that exist regarding the kings of Kizzuwatna come from outside of the kingdom and are unreliable, it is hard to generate a reliable chronology of Kizzuwatna’s rulers. Regardless, it is understood that the final king of Kizzuwatna was Sunassura II [x].

The Kizzuwatna Civilization is first described in a Hittite land grant issued during the Old Hittite Kingdom, though at the time the Kizzuwatna Civilization was known as the Province of Adaniya [xi]. Following the collapse of the Old Hittite Kingdom, the province of Adaniya revolted gained its own separate title and became known as Kizzuwatna with its own established monarchy [xii]. From 1600 BCE to 1400 BCE, Kizzuwatna shifted between being a vassal and tributary of the Hittite Kingdom of Hattusa and the Hurrian Mittani [xiii]. Kizzuwatna eventually became part of Hattusa though the region continued to play a significant role in Hatti’s religious foundation.

While the Kizzuwatna Civilization did not accomplish much outside of maintaining marginal independence from the powers that surrounded it within the region, the civilization can be credited with providing some forces for the historic Battle of Kadesh. This battle is especially notable, as it resulted in what many consider to be the first-ever modern treaty [xiv]. The Kizzuwatna Civilization was also the birthplace of the Hittite Queen, Queen Puduhepa, who is known to have held great power over the religious affairs of Hattusa. Queen Puduhepa [xv] introduced many facets of Kizzuwatnean religion to the Hittite culture, which largely extended its legacy.

Much about the Kizzuwatna Civilization's economy remains unknown due to the lack of primary sources that recount the kingdom’s economy and traded goods. It is known however that the Kizzuwatna Civilization included passages from Anatolia to Syria [xvi], which was a key trade route [xvii] during the time. Kizzuwatna’s in-demand location along trade routes made it the “primary watch post” [xviii] for the Old Hittite Kingdom [xix] that had previously controlled the area. It is assumed that Kizzuwatna’s economy was strongly associated with and bolstered by the trade of goods between the Hatti, Mitanni, Egypt, and the states that lay to the South in Syria.