The Hittite Invasion Of Damascus

No. 36 B. M.—“To King _Annumuria_(127) (Amenophis III) Son of the Sun, my
Lord thus (says) this thy servant _Akizzi_.(128) Seven times at the feet
of my Lord I bow. My Lord in these my lands I am afraid. Mayst thou
protect one who is thy servant under the yoke of my Lord. From the yoke of
my Lord I do not rebel. Lo! there is fear of my foes. The people of this
thy servant are under thy yoke: this country is among thy lands: the city
_Katna_(129) is thy city: I am on the side of my Lord’s rule (yoke). Lo!
the soldiers and the chariots of my Lord’s government have received corn
and drink, oxen and beasts (oil and honey?), meeting the soldiers and the
chariots of my Lord’s dominion (coming?) to me. And now let my Lord ask
the great men of his dominion. My Lord, all lands tremble before thy
soldiers and thy chariots. If these lands are under the dominion of my
Lord’s land, and they are seizing them, let him order his soldiers and his
chariots this year, and let him take the land of _Marhasse_,(130) the
whole of it, to the yoke of my Lord, when—my Lord—the soldiers of the
slaves(131) are(132) ... For six days ago he went out into the land of
_Hu(ba)_, and truly _Aziru_ is sending them, and if in this year my Lord
does not send out the soldiers and the chariots of his government ... to
meet _Aziru_ (and) make him flee ... all will rebel ... My Lord, know him.
My Lord (know) the men who are his foes ... And lo! now the King of the
land of the _Hittites_ ... with pride rebels against his gods. And men who
are destroyers serve the King of the land of the _Hittites_: he sends them
forth. My Lord, my servants, the men of the city of _Katna_, _Aziru_
expels, and all that is theirs, out of the land of the dominion of my
Lord; and behold (he takes?) the northern lands of the dominion of my
Lord. Let (my Lord) save the ... of the men of the city _Katna_. My Lord
truly they made ... he steals their gold my Lord; as has been said there
is fear, and truly they give gold. My Lord—Sun God, my fathers’
god(133)—the men have made themselves your foes, and they have wasted from
over against the abode of their camp (or fortress); and now behold—O Sun
God of my fathers—the King of the _Hittites_ makes them march. And know of
them, my Lord—may the gods make slack their hand. As has been said there
is fear. And lo! perchance the Sun God of my fathers will turn his heart
toward me. My Lord’s word is sure, and let the (increase or tithe of
gold?) be given him, as we have purposed for the Sun God of my fathers. As
has been said they have done to me; and they have destroyed the ... of my
Lord. For this corner—the dwelling of their fortress (or camp)—is out of
sight of the Sun God.”

37 B. M.—“To King _Annumuria_, Son of the Sun, my Lord, thus (says)
_Akizzi_ thy servant: seven times ... at the feet of my Lord I bow. My
Lord, now there is flight and no breathing of the ... of the King my Lord.
And behold now the ... of this dominion of my Lord, in these lands ... and
behold now ... the King of the land of the _Hittites_ ... sends forth ...
and the heart of ... smites him. And now behold the King my Lord sends to
me, and is complaining ... with me as to the rule of the King of the land
of the _Hittites_. And as for me ... the King of the land of the
_Hittites_. As for me I am with the King my Lord, and with the land of
Egypt. I sent and ... as to the rule of the King of the land of the
_Hittites_.”

This text is much damaged; it goes on to speak of _Aidugama_,(134)the
Hittite King, in the country of the King of Egypt, who has taken various
things—enumerated, but not intelligible—including, perhaps, ships or
boats, and dwellings; and it mentions _Neboyapiza_. It then continues:

“My Lord: _Teuiatti_ of the city of _Lapana_,(135) and _Arzuia_ of the
city _Ruhizzi_,(136) minister before _Aidugama_; but this land is the land
of the dominion of my Lord. He is burning it with fire. My Lord, as said,
I am on the side of the King my Lord. I am afraid also because of the King
of the land of _Marhasse_, and the King of the land of _Ni_, and the King
of the land of _Zinzaar_,(137) and the King of the land of _Canaan_. And
all of these are kings under the dominion (or, of the rule) of my
Lord—chiefs who are servants. As said let the King my Lord live and become
mighty, and so O King my Lord wilt not thou go forth? and let the King my
Lord despatch the _bitati_(138) soldiers, let them expel (them) from this
land. As said, my Lord, these kings have ... the chief of my Lord’s
government, and let him say what they are to do, and let them be
confirmed. Because my Lord this land ministers heartily to the King my
Lord. And let him speed soldiers, and let them march; and let the
messengers of the dominion of the King my Lord arrive. For my Lord
_Arzuia_ of the city _Ruhizzi_, and _Teuiatti_ of the city _Lapana_, dwelt
in the land of _Huba_,(139) and _Dasru_ dwelt in the land _Amma_,(140) and
truly my Lord has known them. Behold the land of _Hobah_ was at peace my
Lord in the days of this government. They will be subject to _Aidugama_.
Because we ask, march thou here and mayest ... all the land of _Hobah_. My
Lord, as said, the city _Timasgi_,(141) in the land of _Hobah_, is without
sin at thy feet; and aid thou the city _Katna_ which is without sin at thy
feet. It has been feeble. And my Lord in presence of my messenger the
master shall ordain (our) fate. As has been said, have not I served in the
presence of the _bitati_ soldiers of my Lord? Behold, as said, my Lord has
promised soldiers to this my land, and they shall ... in the city
_Katna_.”

96 B., a letter mainly complimentary, from _Neboyapiza_(142) to the King
of Egypt, ends as follows:

“Behold I myself, with my soldiers and my chariots, with my brethren and
with (men of blood?) and with my people the men of my kindred go to meet
the Egyptian soldiers, as far as the ground which the King my Lord will
name.”

142 B.—“To the King my Lord thus saith this thy servant. At the feet of my
Lord my Sun seven times on my face, seven times I bow. My Lord I am thy
servant, and they will devour me—_Neboyapiza_: we abide before thy face,
my Lord, and lo! they will devour me in your sight. Behold every fortress
of my fathers is taken, by the people out of the city _Gidisi_.(143) And
my fortresses (say) ‘Speed us avengers.’ I make ready, and (because that?)
the _Pakas_(144) of the King my Lord, and the chiefs of his land have
known my faithfulness, behold I complain to the ruler being one approved;
let the ruler consider that (_Neboyapiza_) has given proof ... for now
they have cast thee out. As for me, I have (gathered?) all my brethren,
and we have made the place strong for the King my Lord. I have caused them
to march with my soldiers and with my chariots, and with all my people.
And behold _Neboyapiza_ has sped to all the fortresses of the King my
Lord. Part of the men of blood are from the land _Ammusi_,(145) and (part)
from the land of _Hubi_, and it is won (or reached). But march fast, thou
who art a God(146) and a Sun in my sight, and restore the strongholds
holds to the King my Lord from the men of blood. For they have cast him
out; and the men of blood have rebelled, and are invaders of the King my
Lord. We were obedient to thy yoke, and they have cast out the King my
Lord, and all my brethren.”

It appears, from other letters, that the city of this chief was the
important town _Cumidi_, now _Kamid_, in the southern Lebanon, at the
south end of the Baalbek plain, west of Baal Gad. In Abu el Feda’s time
this town was the capital of the surrounding district.

189 B. is much broken. It is from _Arzana_, chief of the city
_Khazi_.(147) He speaks of an attack on _Tusulti_, by bloody soldiers
fighting against the place, and perhaps of the city _Bel Gidda_ (Baal
Gad),(148) and mentions a _Paka_, or Egyptian official, called _Aman
Khatbi_, named after the Egyptian god Amen. The foes are spoiling the
valley (of Baalbek) in sight of the Egyptian general, and are attacking
_Khazi_, his city. They had already taken _Maguzi_,(149) and are spoiling
Baal Gad. It seems that he asks the King not to blame his general, and
speaks finally of friendly and faithful men.

43 B. M., broken at the top, reads thus:

“... his horses and his chariots ... to men of blood and not ... As for
me, I declare myself for the King my Lord, and a servant to preserve these
to the King entirely. _Biridasia_ perceives this, and has betrayed it, and
he has secretly passed beyond my city _Maramma_;(150) and the great pass
is open behind me. And he is marching chariots from the city
_Astarti_,(151) and commands them for the men of blood, and does not
command them for the King my Lord. Friendly to him is the King of the city
_Buzruna_;(152) and the King of the city of _Khalavunni_(153) has made
promises to him: both have fought with _Biridasia_ against me. Wickedly
they vex us. I have marched our kinsmen—the people of _Neboyapiza_—but his
success never fails ... and he rebels. As for me from ... and he sends out
from ... the city _Dimasca_ (Damascus) behold ... they complain ... they
afflict. I am complaining to the King of Egypt as a servant; and
_Arzaiaia_ is marching to the city _Gizza_,(154) and _Azi_ (_ru_) takes
soldiers ... The Lord of the city _Saddu_(155) declares for the men of
blood, and her chief does not declare for the King my Lord; and as far as
this tribe marches it has afflicted the land of _Gizza_. _Arzaiaia_ with
_Biridasia_ afflicts the land (which is wretched? or _Abitu_), and the
King witnesses the division of his land. Let not men who have been hired
disturb her. Lo! my brethren have fought for me. As for me, I will guard
the town of _Cumidi_ (Kamid), the city of the King my Lord. But truly the
King forgets his servant ... his servant, O King ... have arrayed kings
... the men of the wretched land” (or of the land _Abitu_).

152 B.—“... thus _Ara_ (_ga?_) chief of the city _Cumidi_(156) (Kamid) ...
at the feet of the King my Lord seven times seven times I bow. Behold as
to me I am thy faithful servant: let the King my Lord ask of his _Pakas_
(chiefs) as to me, a faithful servant of the King my Lord, one whom they
have ruined. Truly I am a faithful servant of the King my Lord, and let
the King my Lord excuse this dog, and let him (bear me in remembrance?).
But never a horse and never a chariot is mine, and let this be considered
in sight of the King my Lord; and closely allied(157) is his servant; and
to explain this I am despatching my son to the land of the King my Lord,
and let the King my Lord deign to hear me.”

46 B. M.—“At the feet of the King my Lord seven and seven (times) I bow.
Behold what this our saying tells, as to the land _Am_ (Ham) the
fortresses of the King my Lord. A man named _Eda_ ... has arisen, a chief
of the land _Cinza_ east of the land of the _Hittites_, to take the
fortresses of the King my Lord ... and we made the fortresses for the King
my Lord my God my Sun, and we have lived in the fortresses of the King my
Lord.”

125 B.—“To the King my Lord thus _Arzaiaia_, chief of the city
_Mikhiza_.(158) At the feet of my Lord I bow. King my Lord, I have heard
as to going to meet the Egyptian (_bitati_) soldiers of the King my Lord
who are with us, to meet the general (_Paka_) with (all the infantry?) ...
all who have marched to overthrow the King my Lord. Truly a (great
strength to the people?) are the Egyptian (_bitati_) soldiers of the King
my Lord, and his commander (_Paka_). As for me, do I not order all to ...
after them? Behold they have been speedy, O King my Lord, and his foes are
delayed by them by the hand of the King my Lord.”

126 B.—The same writer, in a broken letter, calls himself a faithful
servant of the King. This was perhaps at an earlier period of the war,
before the events recorded by Neboyapiza (189 B., 43 B. M.).

75 B. M.—A short letter from _Dasru_ to say he has heard the King’s
message. He lived in the land of _Ham_ (37 B. M.).

127 B. M.—The same writer says that all that the King does for his land is
of good omen.

171 B.—“A message and information from the servant of the King my Lord my
God.... And behold what the chief of _Simyra_ has done to my brethren of
the city of _Tubakhi_;(159) and he marches to waste the fortresses of the
King my Lord my God my Sun ... the land of the _Amorites_. He has wearied
out our chiefs. The fortresses of the King my Lord my God ... are for men
of blood. And now strong is the god of the King my Lord my God my Sun; and
the city of _Tubakhi_ goes forth to war, and I have stirred up my
brethren, and I guard the city of _Tubakhi_ for the King my Lord my God my
Sun. And behold this city of _Tubakhi_ is the city of the plains of my
fathers.”

132 B.—“To the King my Lord by letter thus (says) _Artabania_, chief of
the city _Ziribasani_(160) thy servant. At the feet of the King my Lord
seven times, on my face, seven times I bow. Behold a message to me to
speed to meet the Egyptian (_bitati_) soldiers. And who am I but a dog
only, and shall I not march? Behold me, with my soldiers and my chariots
meeting the Egyptian soldiers at the place of which the King my Lord
speaks.”

78 B. M.—“To the King my Lord thus the chief of the city _Gubbu_(161) thy
servant. At the feet of the King my Lord my Sun (permit?) that seven
times, on my face, seven times I bow. Thou hast sent as to going to meet
the Egyptian soldiers, and now I with my soldiers and my chariots meet the
soldiers of the King my Lord, at the place you march to.”

64 B. M.—“To _Yankhamu_(162) my Lord by letter thus _Muu-taddu_ thy
servant. I bow at my Lord’s feet as this says, announcing that the enemy
is hastening speedily as—my Lord—was announced to the King of the city
_Bikhisi_(163) from friends(164) of his Lord. Let the King my Lord speed:
let the King my Lord fly: for the foe is wasting in the city _Bikhisi_
this two months, there is none ... On account of (_Bibelu_?) having told
me this one has asked then ... until by the arrival of _Anamarut_
(Amenophis IV)(165) the city of _Ashtoreth_ is occupied.(166) Behold they
have destroyed all the fortresses of neighboring lands: the city
_Udumu_,(167) the city _Aduri_,(168) the city _Araru_,(169) the city
_Meis_(_pa?_),(170) the city _Macdalim_,(171) the city _Khini_.(172) I
announced that they had taken the city _Zaar_.(173) They are fighting this
city, the city _Yabisi_.(174) Moreover, fearing the force against me, I am
watching it till you arrive. One has come from your way to the city
_Bikhisi_,(175) and he has made us hear the news.”

134 B.—“To the King my Lord by letter thus _Abdmelec_ the chief of this
city _Saskhi_(176) thy servant. At the feet of the King my Lord ... on my
face seven times I bow. Thou hast sent as to going to meet the Egyptian
soldiers, accordingly I with my soldiers and my chariots (am) meeting the
soldiers of the King my Lord, at the place to which you will march.”

143 B.—“To the King our Lord thus (says) _Addubaya_ and thus also
_Betili_. At the feet of our Lord we bow. Peace indeed to the face of our
Lord. And (as is fit?) from the lands of our Lord, much they salute. O our
Lord, will not you settle everything in your heart? Will not you harden
your heart as to this combat O our Lord? But their intention is clear—to
make war on the stations, as in our country they do not follow after thee.
_Lupackhallu_(177) has removed the soldiers of the _Hittites_; they will
go against the cities of the land of Ham (_Am_) and from _Atadumi_ they
will (take?) them. And let our Lord know, since we hear that _Zitana_(178)
the Phœnician (_Kharu_) has deserted, who will march. And nine chiefs of
the soldiers of the government are with us, who march, and the message is
unfavorable: a gathering in the land they have made; and they will arrive
from the land of _Marhasse_ (_Mer’ash_). But I cause _Betili_ to send
against this (foe). Thus we wage war against them. And my trusty messenger
I cause to be sent to your presence, as said; for you to return an order
whether we shall do so or whether not. To _Raban_ and _Abdbaal_, to
_Rabana_ and _Rabziddu_ thus: behold to all of you be peace indeed, and
will not you harden your hearts, and will not you settle all in your
hearts, and do what is fitting from your places? Much peace; and to (the
people?) peace be increased.”

91 B.—“To the King my Lord thus (says) the city _Gebal_(179) (and) thus
_Rabikhar_ (‘the Lord of Phœnicia’) thy servant. At the feet of my Lord
the Sun seven times I bow. Do not be angry, O King my Lord, with the city
of _Gebal_ (_Gubla_) thy handmaid—a city of the King from of old, obeying
what the King commands as to _Aziru_, and it did as he wished. Behold
_Aziru_ slew _Adunu_, Lord of the land of _Ammia_,(180) and the King of
the land of _Ardata_,(181) and has slain the great men, and has taken
their cities for himself. The city _Simyra_ is his. Of the cities of the
King only the city _Gebal_ escapes for the King. Behold the city _Simyra_
is subjected. He has smitten the city _Ullaza_.(182) The captains of both
have gone into exile. Behold this sin _Aziru_ wrought. Sinful are his
strivings against her ... he has smitten all the lands of _Ham_ (_Am_),
lands of the King; and now he has despatched his men to destroy all the
lands of _Ham_; and the King of the land of the _Hittites_, and the king
of the land of _Nereb_ (_Nariba_)(183) (have made?) the land conquered
land.”

From these letters we learn clearly that the Mongol kings near the
Euphrates (and, as appears later, in Armenia) were leagued with the
Hittites of Mer’ash in the extreme north of Syria, and of Kadesh on the
Orontes, and were supported by the Amorites of the northern Lebanon and by
some of the Phœnicians; that the enemy marched south, a distance of 300
miles, taking all the towns in the Baalbek Valley, reaching Damascus by
the gorge of the Barada River, and advancing into the land of Ham—in
Bashan—where all the chief towns fell. This serves to make clear the
treachery of Aziru’s letters which follow. The Amorite advance on the
Phœnician coast was contemporary, and extended to Tyre. It appears,
however, that the Amorites were a Semitic people, while the names of the
Hittites are Mongolic.