Event
The Amarna letters refer to Artatama, a…
The Amarna letters refer to Artatama, a Mittanian king, as an ancestor who established an alliance with Thutmose IV of Egypt.
According to modern interpretation of scarce available sources, Artatama had come to power when the Mitanni kingdom was severely weakened by the Hittite invasion.
Facing the perils of fighting a war on two fronts, the Hittites in the north and Egypt in the south, Artatama had approached Amenhotep II with an offer of peaceful division of contested lands in Syria.
A peaceful resolution of an old conflict could grow into a political and military alliance, but the Egyptians suspected foul play and would deny a definite answer for years.
Little is known of Artatama, who left no inscriptions.
At one point during the reign of Thutmose IV, the Egyptians propose a marriage between Thutmose and Artatama's daughter, but for unknown reasons Artatama rejects the offer.
The Egyptians have to make seven consecutive marriage proposals before Artatama finally agree.
Thus, Artatama may be the father of Queen Mutemwiya and the maternal grandfather of Amenhotep III.
Artatama is succeeded by his son Shuttarna II.
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The Great Crossroads
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The Near and Middle East
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Middle East
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