علاقات الملك الحثي حاتوشيلي الثالث (1267- 1237ق.م) مع بلاد بابل

Abstract

Shortly after his accession, he had established an alliance with the Babylonian king Kadashman-Turgu, drawing up a treaty with him and persuading him to sever his links with Egypt. But within a year or so of the treaty, Kadashman-Turgu died, and was succeeded by his son Kadashman-Enlil II.

who quickly restored diplomatic relations with Egypt. Hattušili III was angered and frustrated by the news. Yet ill-considered protests and threats might only serve to strengthen the Babylonian king’s links with Egypt, and seriously jeopardize any hope of persuading him to renew his father’s alliance with Hatti. Hattušili III was also aware that the young king’s policies were strongly influenced by his powerful vizier Itti-Marduk-balatu, leader of an anti-Hittite, pro-Assyrian faction in the Babylonian court. In view of the potential threats posed by both Egypt and Assyria to Hittite subject territories in Syria, Hattušili III must have set great store on cultivating good relations with Kadashman-Enlil. Thus he wrote to him in very measured terms, reminding him of his father’s accord with the new regime in Hattuša, and mildly reprimanding him for his failure to renew and maintain this accord:

"When your father and established friendly relations and became loving brothers, we did not become brothers for a single day. Did we not establish brotherhood and friendly relations forever? We then made the following agreement: ‘We are but mortal. The survivor shall protect the children of the one who goes first to his fate".