MITANNI

The Mitanni kingdom arose from the ashes of the Old-Babylonian Empire [i], as early Mitanni kings took advantage of the Babylonian’s decline to expand their territory. Eventually, an internal power struggle [ii] occurred between Mitanni King Tushratta and one of his relatives, Artatama II [iii]. The Egyptians backed Tushratta, while the neighboring Hittites [iv] supported Artatama II. Fearing the growing power of the Hittites, Egypt withdrew its support for Tushratta, allowing the Hittites to invade Mitanni and take power. Later, under the reign of Hittite King Mursili II (1321-1295 BCE), Mitanni lands fell to the Assyrian Empire [v], which erased the final semblance of Mitanni autonomy.

Known allies of the Mitanni include the Anatolian kingdom Kizzuwatna [vi], the Yamhad dynasty [vii], and the Syrian kingdom of Niya [viii]. Relations between the Mitanni kings and their Egyptian counterparts fluctuated. After a period of conflict over Syrian lands, Egypt defeated the Mitanni at Aleppo under the leadership of Tuthmosis III [ix]. In a treaty between the two nations, the daughter of Mitanni King Tushratta was married to Amenhotep III [x] (1391-1353 BCE), the ninth king of Egypt during the 18th Dynasty. The Mitannis often clashed [xi] with the Hittites over their shared north-western border. Hittite victory set the stage for Mitanni decline, preceding Assyrian conquest.

The Mitanni kingdom is in many ways a forgotten empire [xii]. After a relatively short existence, Mitanni lands were eventually swallowed up by Assyria. To date, no ruins have been found of Mitanni cities, including the capital, Wassukanni [xiii]. Mitanni greatness was largely elapsed, as the Hittites, the Egyptians, and later, the Assyrians, would come to dominate the land more prominently. More details will emerge about the Mitanni if archeologists someday discover the civilizations’ buried ruins. The most influential Mitanni contribution to the ancient world was its role in advancing the war chariot [xiv]; a technology that would be crucial for centuries to come.

While the Mitanni people were largely Hurrians [xv], the kings and ruling elite were Indo-Iranians who adopted the Hurrian language and intermarried with the local people. Mitanni society was segmented by classes, ranks, and professions. The elite were warriors called Mariannu [xvi], an esteemed caste of charioteers. Mitanni rulers’ authority over their land appears to have been strong until the internal power struggle between King Tushratta and Artatama II, and the subsequent Hittite conquest of Mitanni. Under Hittite and Assyrian rule, Mitanni kings were able to maintain some autonomy [xvii] over their lands, while owing allegiance to the conquering Hittite and Assyrian kings, respectively.

The Mitanni kingdom lasted between 1475 and 1275 BCE. After the Hittite conquest of Mitanni, the Hittite king, Suppiluliuma I, divided Mitanni territory into two provinces [xviii]; with Aleppo and Carchemish as their capitals. During the reign of Hittite king, Mursili II [xix] (1321-1295 BCE), Mitanni fell to the Assyrian Empire. As a vassal state, Mitanni maintained some degree of autonomy– that is until the Mitanni king, Shattuara II, rebelled unsuccessfully against Assyria around 1250 BCE. In response, the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser I, annihilated Mitanni soldiers, destroyed Mitanni cities, and sold much of the population into slavery. Mitanni was entirely absorbed into Assyria.

The Mitanni were skilled horsemen and charioteers. Historians believe they led the development of the light war chariot [xx], which had spoked wheels rather than solid wood as was used by prior civilizations. This new chariot was much lighter, faster, and easier to maneuver. Excavations of the Hittite archives in present-day Turkey found the oldest surviving horse training manual in the world [xxi]. The manual was written on four tablets in 1345 BCE and contained instructions by a prominent Mitanni horse trainer. The relatively large amount of territory acquired by the Mitanni kings during the kingdom’s relatively short time was a massive accomplishment.

Like many ancient civilizations, agriculture was the economic center of the Mitanni kingdom [xxii] , which raised herds of cattle, sheep, horses, and goats. The kingdom controlled many important trade routes, including much of the Euphrates and upper Tigris rivers. Its capital, Washukanni, was located on the headwaters of the River Habur, a tributary of the Euphrates. Mitanni lands in Northern Syria bordered Eastern Anatolia. This geographic location put the kingdom at a strategic crossroads between great powers. The Mitanni were skilled horsemen and charioteers and seem to have collaborated with the Hittites [xxiii] to develop advanced war chariots, along with other equestrian advancements.