CHAPTER 25

Death of an Empire

1

ON THE VERGE OF DISINTEGRATION

T

he longest of all hieroglyphic inscriptions is carved on a
cliff-face on the rocky outcrop now called Nişantaş
(Nişantepe) in the Hittite capital. Unfortunately, it has
weathered to the point where it’s almost unintelligible. But a few
wordshereandtherecanberead–enough to indicate that the
inscription contains a triumphant catalogue of the victories of the
last Hittite king, Suppiluliuma II, over his enemies and rebellious
subjects. No doubt this included an account of his western
campaign, recorded in the better preserved‘Südburg inscription’
in the cult complex near the city’s acropolis.^2 ‘Don’t worry,
everything’s under control’is the message Suppiluliuma seems to
be conveying to his subjects. If so, the message was a totally
delusional one.
Within a short time of Tudhaliya’sdeathc.1209, it was clear
that the empire he had tried to restore to its former glory was in
serious trouble. Things began badly when Tudhaliya’ssonand
first successor Arnuwanda (III) died within a few months of his
accession, leaving no son andheir of his own. His younger
brother Suppiluliuma now quickly assumed kingship and bound
his officials in oaths of allegiance to him. Implying that
Arnuwanda was the victim of foul play by his own subjects, this
second Suppiluliuma declared that he had taken royal office only
because there was no other rightful heir to the throne. That of
course was not strictly true. There were still the descendants of