I. Šuppiluliuma Dönemi’nde Azzi-Hayaša İlişkilerine Genel Bir Bakış
A general look at Azzi-Hayaša relations in the period of Šuppiluliuma I

Summary/Abstract: The Hittites established the first centralized political state in Anatolia. In the early periods, members of the royal dynasty were appointed to administer newly conquered territories; however, in parallel with the expansion of the state, these regions were gradually transformed into vassal kingdoms through formal treaties. During the reign of King Suppiluliuma I, the implementation of effective military and political strategies extended Hittite authority beyond the borders of Anatolia, elevating the state to the level of an empire. The struggle to dominate Northern Syria—situated at the crossroads of major trade routes and regarded as a strategic objective by both powerful states and smaller polities—was among the primary goals of the Hittite kingdom. Accordingly, the majority of Hittite political and military activities were planned in pursuit of this objective. Efforts to secure the northern and northeastern frontiers of the state were also integral components of this broader Northern Syrian policy. In line with this strategy, the Hittites sought to control the Kaška tribes through a combination of military campaigns and treaties. The region of the Hayaša kingdom in northeastern Anatolia occupied a geographically strategic position capable of preventing potential threats both from its own territory and from the Kaška tribes, who were allied against the Hittites. For this reason, in addition to organizing military campaigns against Hayaša, the Hittites also undertook diplomatic initiatives and concluded a vassal treaty with the kingdom. Through this treaty, provisions were established concerning loyalty to the Hittite state, alliances against other polities, and adherence to certain moral principles, thereby ensuring Hayaša’s status as a vassal of the Hittite kingdom. This arrangement effectively aligned the Hayaša region with the military and political interests of the Hittite state. Furthermore, the political marriage between the daughter of Suppiluliuma I and Hukkana, who was installed as king of Azzi-Hayaša, reinforced this vassal relationship through dynastic kinship. This practice, included within the framework of the vassal treaty, represents the first known example in Hittite history of a marriage conducted at the royal level for entirely political purposes. In terms of both its causes and consequences, this practice constituted a significant element of Hittite administrative and political structure. Evidence from the contents of the treaty, which has parallels in later periods, indicates that the Hittite state aimed to establish political, military, and social dominance over its vassal territories.

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