many of the deportees captured during Hittite campaigns and
transported to the Hittite homeland. In any case, Hattusili wanted
all of them back, and their retrieval was at least one of the reasons
for his western campaign.
Putting paid to the activities of Piyamaradu was clearly one of
the main objectives of this campaign. But it was not easily achieved.
Fully aware of the support Piyamaradu commanded in the west,
including at least tacit backing from the king of Ahhiyawa, Hattusili
tried to bring him to heel without resorting to force. While on his
march to the west, he sent messengers to Piyamaradu, to open up
communications and attempt a peaceful settlement with him. But
Piyamaradu was not interested. He rejected his former overlord’s
advances on the specious grounds that he had failed to follow
proper diplomatic procedures in the approaches he made to him.
A resolution of the matter by armed conflict was now inevitable.
Hattusili continued his march westwards, and Piyamaradu and
his supporters were pursued all the way to the coast. Though
offering some stiff resistance before they got there, they were
finally overwhelmed by their pursuers, and Piyamaradu was left
defenceless. His enemy had still to lay hands on him, but he could
not hope to remain free for long. There was just one option
left. Hefled to the city of Milawata and sought refuge in it. He would
be safe here, he thought, for Milawata was at that time under
the control of Ahhiyawa. Surely the Hittite king would respect
Ahhiyawan sovereign territory and keep out. It was a false hope.
Now that he was so close to capturing his quarry, Hattusili ignored
diplomatic niceties, and ordered his troops to enter the city and seize
Piyamaradu. The renegade’s career was about to come to an abrupt
end, so it seemed. But Hattusili had underestimated his instinct
for survival, for once more Piyamaradu eluded his pursuers.
He escaped from Milawata by ship and found safe haven elsewhere
in Ahhiyawan territory, out of the Hittites’reach–probably on an
island under Ahhiyawan control off the Anatolian coast.
Frustrated and virtually empty-handed, Hattusili returned
home. He wrote to the Ahhiyawan king about the whole affair,
blaming him for supporting or at least conniving at Piyamaradu’s
activities. But the letter was couched in largely conciliatory terms.
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING 193