The Kings of Hatti — the Hittite Empire

This is a list of the known kings of the Hittite Empire c.1650-1200BC with variations marked where scholars disagree.

As Beckman has written (2000), it is currently impossible to produces an absolute chronology for Hittite monarchs. However, we can assemble a working hypothesis based on the evidence available: surviving tablets from the Hittites’ own archives and those of nearby Near Eastern powers; monumental stone inscriptions from Anatolia, Egypt, Syria and Mesopotamia; and written statements on other objects, such as the bronze swords and tablet found at Hattusa.

What follows is the list of Hittite kings devised by Bryce (2005). I have included alongside it the points at which it differs from an alternative regnal list published by Beckman (2000). Where the two differ — and this is primarily in the Middle Kingdom period — Bryce’s timeline is on the left, Beckman’s on the right. The differences are subtle and open to scholarly debate; only further discoveries of written material, and revised translations and interpretations of existing tablets and inscriptions will steer us toward the true North of Hittite chronology.

The Age of Bronze favours the Bryce timeline on the basis that both are equally valid readings, but we can only select one as our ‘working hypothesis’. As I say, future discoveries and re-interpretations may — undoubtedly will — change the reading presented here. Whether in favour Bryce or Beckman, we cannot say.

For further events in the history of the Hittite Empire and its contemporaries, please see the Timelines section.

YearMonarchRelationship to Predecessor
1650Hattusili IGrandson of Labarna (Bryce)
Nephew of Labarna (Beckmann)
1645
1640
1635
1630
1625
1620Mursili IGrandson and adopted son of Hattusili
1615
1610
1605
1595
1590Hantili IBrother-in-law of Mursili
1585
1580
1575
1570
1565
1560Zidanta I
Ammuna
Huzziya
Son-in-law of Hantili
Son of Zidanta
Brother of Ammuna’s daughter-in-law (Bryce); son of Ammuna? (Beckhman)
1555
1550
1545
1540
1535
1530
1525TelepinuBrother-in-law of Huzziya
1520
1515
1510
1505
1500 
Alluwanna
Tahurwalli
Hantili II
Zidanta II
Huzziya II
Muwatalli I
Bryce
Son-in-law of Telepinu
Interloper
Son of Alluwanna?
Son of Hantili
Son of Zidanta?
Interloper
 
Tahurwalli
Alluwanna
Hantili II
Zidanta II
Huzziya II
Muwatalli I
Beckmann
Unknown
Son-in-law of Telepinu?
Son of Alluwanna
Unknown
Son of Zidanta?
Unknown
1495
1490
1485
1480
1475
1470
1465
1460
1455
1450
1445
1440
1435
1430
1425
1420
1415
1410
1405
1400 
Tudhaliya I/II
Arnuwanda I
Hatusili II?
Tudhaliya III
Bryce
Grandson of Huzziya II?
Son-in-law, adopted son of Tudhaliya
Son of Arnuwanda?
Son of Hatusili?
 
Tudhaliya I
Arnuwanda I
Tudhaliya II
Tudhaliya III
Beckmann
Son of Huzziya
Son-in-law, adopted son of Tudhaliya
Son of Arnuwanda
Son of Tudhaliya II
1395
1390
1385
1380
1375
1370
1365
1360
1355
1350 
Suppiluliuma I
Bryce
Son of Tudhaliya III
 
Suppiluliuma I
Beckmann
Son of Tudhaliya III
1345
1340
1335
1330
1322Arnuwanda IISon of Suppiluliuma
1321Mursili IIBrother of Arnuwanda
1315
1310
1305
1300
1295Muwattalli IISon of Mursili
1290
1285
1280
1275
1272Uhri-TeshubSon of Muwattalli
1267Hattusili IIIUncle of Uhri-Teshub; brother of Muwattalli
1260
1255
1250
1245
1240
1237Tudhaliya IVSon of HattusiliKurunta
Uhri-Teshub
Son of Muwattalli,
King of Tarhuntassa
1230
1225
1220
1215
1210
1209Arnuwanda IIISon of Tudhaliya
1207Suppiluliuma IIBrother of Arnuwands
1200
1195

 
At this point, Hattusa is abandoned by its royalty and the Hittite Empire is no more. Many miles from the coast, this city seems unlikely to have fallen prey to the ‘Peoples of the Sea’, pace the friezes of Ramesses III at Medinet Habbu (if ‘Khatte’ is to be read as ‘Hatti’ — see Cline 2015). However, some diasater, human or environmental, caused the nobles of Hatti to leave their home.


The Luwian Seal of Tarkasnawa, Last King of the Bronze Age Anatolian land of Mira The Luwian Seal of Tarkasnawa, Last King of the Bronze Age Anatolian land of Mira
Copyright © 2024, Tony Smith