Mitanni (Hanigalbat), Kingdom of

Mitanni, or Hanigalbat, is a loosely organized Hurrian-speaking state in northern Syria and south-east Anatolia from ca.

1500 BCE–1300 BCE.

Founded by an Indo-Aryan ruling class governing a predominately Hurrian population, Mitanni comes to be a regional power after the Hittite destruction of Kassite Babylon creates a power vacuum in Mesopotamia.

At the beginning of its history, Mitanni's major rival is Egypt under the Thutmosids.

However, with the ascent of the Hittite empire, Mitanni and Egypt make an alliance to protect their mutual interests from the threat of Hittite domination.

At the height of its power, during the 14th century BCE, it had outposts center around its capital, Washukanni, whose location has been determined by archaeologists to be on the headwaters of the Khabur River.

Eventually, Mitanni succumbs to Hittite and later Assyrian attacks, and is reduced to the status of a province of the Middle Assyrian Empire.Their sphere of influence is shown in Hurrian place names, personal names and the spread through Syria of a distinct pottery type.