The Hittites under Hattusili had battled with the Syrians of Aleppo and the Hurrians of Mittani for control of Cilicia; his heir, Mursili I, conquers Aleppo and stalemates Mitanni, then launches a series of forays down the Euphrates Valley, plundering Babylon and leaving it to the further depredations of the Kassites and other groups.

The Dynasty of the Sealand, based in the far south, fills the power vacuum left when the Hitttites withdraw.

Mursili defeats the Hurrians on his return march from Babylon, bringing with him captives and possessions of Babylon to Hattusa.

Following the assassination of Mursili in 1590 BCE, the Hittite kingdom experiences several decades of internal strife, punctuated by political insurrection, royal assassinations, and palace intrigues.