What Kings Coalesce Face to Face During Late Bronze Age 1550-1200 B.C.

Did Kings Meet Each Other Face-to-Face During the Late Bronze Age?

By Mohy-Eldin E. Abo-Eleaz 

During the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550–1200 BCE) five great powers – Egypt, Mitanni, Babylon, Ḫatti, and Assyria – arose and divided control of Western Asia among them. Surrounded by subordinate vassals, there was a need to communicate with each other and to strengthen political, military and economic dominance and control over specific regions. This system was based on a large network of messengers, scribes, and skilled personnel. Communication was also conducted through establishing political alliances, treaties, marriage alliances, and a large quantity of royal gift exchanges.

Map of Ancient Near East, c. 1400 BCE. (https://www.worldhistory.org/image/249/map-of-mesopotamia-c-1400-bce/)

The Marriage Stele of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel (http://antikforever.com/Egypte/Reines/Images/maathorneferoure03b.jpg)

Although economic and security interests were fundamental to Great Power relationships, working relationships between great kings were also vital self-interests. Kings primarily each dealt with each other through deputies. Thus, in addition to official reports, kings gave special attention to non-official impressions of the personalities of their rivals, their weaknesses and temperaments. 

Invitations to meet kings

Many of Great Kings often expressed the wish to see each other, and to know each other’s country, as they exchanged greetings. They also frequently invited each other to attend the celebration of an important festival, or the inauguration of a new palace. For example, the Babylonian king Kadašman-Enlil I sent a message to Amenhotep III inviting the Pharaoh to attend the grand opening of a new palace in Babylonia. There are also many invitations from the vassals for the Great Kings to visit their country.