He is succeeded by his son Muwattalli II (1295–1272), during
whose reign worsening relations between Hatti and Egypt
culminate in a major battle between Mursili’s forces and those of
the pharaoh Ramesses II at Qadesh on the Orontes river in Syria
(1274). The battle itself ends in a stalemate, but Muwattalli
subsequently wins control of the disputed territories which had
been a primary cause of the conflict.
Muwattalli is succeeded by his son Urhi-Teshub (1272–1267),
from whom power is seized by his uncle Hattusili (III) after a brief
civil war.
During Hattusili’s reign (1267–1237), a peace treaty is signed
with Ramesses II (1259), marking the end of all hostilities with
Egypt. Hattusili conducts further campaigns in western Anatolia,
with limited success.
Hattusili’s son and successor Tudhaliya IV (1237–1209) is
confronted with increasing unrest among his subject-states, and is
defeated by the king of Assyria in a battle fought in northern
Mesopotamia. Assyria had emerged as a major power in the region
following the fall of the kingdom of Mittani.
The Hittite kingdom ends during the reign of Tudhaliya’s
second successor Suppiluliuma II (1207–?), within the context of a
general collapse of many Late Bronze Age centres in the early
twelfth century. Egyptian records associate this collapse with
groups of invaders we call the Sea Peoples. These groups allegedly
sweep through much of the western half of the Near Eastern world
both by land and sea, leaving a path of destruction in their wake,
though much doubt has been cast on the historical validity of the
Egyptian records.
272 WARRIORS OF ANATOLIA