Šaušgamuwa

Šaušgamuwa (Shaushgamuwa; Sausgamuwa) was the King of Amurru in the 13th century BCE. He was the son and second successor of Bentesina and a vassal of Tudhaliya IV of the Hittite Empire.

Reign

Treaty of Šaušgamuwa (CTH 105)

The famous Treaty of Šaušgamuwa (CTH 105/KUB 23.1+), an accord concluded between the Hittite king Tudḫaliya IV and his vassal/brother-in-law Šaušgamuwa, King of Amurru.

Preamble and Historical Introduction

(Vs. I 1–7) [Thus speaks] the Great King, [Tudḫaliya, Great King], King of the [Land of] Ḫatti, hero, [son of Ḫattušili, Great King, King of the Land of Ḫatti, hero, grandson of Mursili, Great King, King of the Land of Ḫatti, hero]. (Vs. I 8–12) [To Šaušgamu]wa, [my] Son-in-Law... [Regarding the treaty clause...] on the tablet... (Vs. I 13–27) [Formerly], the land of Amurru was not conquered by force of arms by the King of Ḫatti. When [...] came into the land of Ḫatti, [the lands] of Amurru were still subjects of the King of Hurri (Mitanni). [Aziru] was loyal in the same way. But by force of arms [... Aziru...] And Aziru protected your forefather [Suppiluliuma] for his overlordship; he also protected Ḫatti, and later he protected Mursili for his overlordship, and he protected the land of Ḫatti. He did not commit any transgression against the land of Ḫatti. (Vs. I 28–39) When Muwattalli, brother of my father, became king, the people of the land of Amurru committed a offense against him. They declared to him: "We were your subjects by love, but now we are no longer your subjects!" And they went over to the King of Egypt. Because of this, Muwattalli, brother of my father, and the King of Egypt fought over the people of Amurru. Muwattalli defeated him, devastated the land of Amurru by force of arms, and made it subject again. Then he made Šapili king in the land of Amurru. (Vs. I 40–48) When Muwattalli, brother of my father, became a god (died), my father Ḫattušili became king. He removed Šapili from his throne and made your father, Bentesina, king in the land of Amurru. My father protected him, and Bentesina protected the land of Ḫatti, and he committed no offense against the land of Ḫatti.

Marriage Alliance & Dynastic Loyalty

(Vs. II 1–7) [Now I], My Sun, Great King, have taken you, Šaušgamuwa, by the hand. I have made you my son-in-law, given you my sister in marriage, and made you king in the land of Amurru. You shall protect My Sun in overlordship, and you shall also protect the children, grandchildren, and offspring of My Sun in overlordship. You shall not desire any other overlordship or any other royal line! Let this matter be placed under oath! (Vs. II 8–18) Because I have made you, Šaušgamuwa, my son-in-law: protect My Sun in overlordship, and protect the children, grandchildren, and offspring of My Sun in overlordship! But as for the brothers of My Sun who are legitimate, or the royal sons born of secondary wives who belong to My Sun's father, or any other royal offspring, or any palace relatives—you shall not desire any of them for overlordship! (Vs. II 18–38) Do not act like Masturi! Masturi was king of the Seha River Land; Muwattalli took him, made him his son-in-law, and gave him his sister Massanauzzi in marriage, making him king in the Seha River Land. But when Muwattalli became a god, Urhi-Tessup (Mursili III), son of Muwattalli, became king. [...] Masturi committed treason. Although Muwattalli had taken him and made him his son-in-law, Masturi did not protect his son Urhi-Tessup, but committed treason and sided with my father! Will you now act like Masturi? If anyone brings harm upon My Sun, or upon the children, grandchildren, and offspring of My Sun—if you, Šaušgamuwa, together with your wives, your children, your infantry, and your chariots do not support My Sun with a whole heart, and do not fight to the death alongside your wives and children, let these oaths destroy you! (Vs. II 39–84) [Fragmentary section detailing standard protective oaths, prohibitions against aiding rebels, and obligations to report internal plots in Ḫatti.]

Extradition & Internal Security

(Rs. III 85–103) [Fragmentary instructions regarding fugitives and border security between Ḫatti and Amurru.] If a man of Ḫatti—whether he be a king's brother, a prince, a lord, or a common person—brings any seditious talk against My Sun into your presence, or if My Sun treats someone with hostility, you must not conceal the matter from My Sun! You shall report it to My Sun! [...] (Rs. IV 104–109) [Fragmentary instructions on diplomatic relations with external powers.]

International Relations and Trade Embargo (The Great Kings)

(Rs. IV 110–119) And the kings who are my equals in rank are: the King of Egypt, the King of Babylonia (Karanduniyas), the King of Assyria, and the King of Ahhiyawa. If the King of Egypt is at peace with My Sun, let him be at peace with you. But if he is an enemy to My Sun, let him be an enemy to you! If the King of Babylonia is at peace with My Sun, let him be at peace with you. But if he is an enemy to My Sun, let him be an enemy to you! (Rs. IV 120–128) Because the King of Assyria is an enemy to My Sun, he shall likewise be an enemy to you! Your merchants shall not enter the land of Assyria, and you shall not allow his merchants into your land! He shall not pass through your land. But if he enters your land, seize him and send him to My Sun! Let this matter be placed under oath! (Rs. IV 129–134) And since I, My Sun, am at war with the King of Assyria, when I mobilize infantry and chariotry, you shall do the same. As it is urgent for My Sun, so shall it be urgent for you. Mobilize your infantry and chariotry with a whole heart! Let this matter be placed under oath! (Rs. IV 135–139) No ship of [Ahhiyawa?] shall sail to him [Assyria?], nor shall you allow [...]

Concluding Fragments

(Rs. IV 140 – Frg. 8 / Left Edge 158–162) [Damaged provisions concerning border defense, supply lines, military readiness, and invoking the divine oath witnesses to uphold the treaty or destroy the violator.] "...Provision him and protect him! Stand against the enemy... Let this matter be placed under the Oath of the Gods!"

(Original text, Translation by Google Gemini)

  • The Kings of Equal Rank (Rs. IV 110–111): This famous line explicitly lists the contemporary "Great Powers" of the Late Bronze Age: Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, and Ahhiyawa (widely identified as Mycenaean Greece, cf. Achaeans). Noticeably, the scribe erased/scratched out "King of Ahhiyawa" in the tablet.
  • Economic Blockade (Rs. IV 120–128): One of the earliest recorded examples of a trade embargo, barring Assyrian merchants from Amurru's Mediterranean ports to cut off Assyrian trade routes.
  • In effect, the Hittites blocked both the Ahhiyawa in the west and Assyrians in the east.

Attestations

  • CTH 105: Treaty of Tudhaliya IV with Shawgamuwa of Amurru
  • CTH 115: Decree of Tudhaliya IV? concerning Shawgamuwa of Amurru