Akizzi

Akizzi (Akk. ^ma-ki-iz-zi) was the King of Qatna around 1350-1345 BC. He was a successor of Idanda. While Idanda is known from an archive in Qatna, no archive has been found with letters beloning to Akizzi.

Akizzi
Ruler of Qatna
Reign	c. 1350 BC
Predecessor	Idanda
Father	Idanda?

It is unclear if Akizzi used the titles LU (man) or LUGAL (king) for himself. He used the former title for surrounding pettery rulers, and the latter title for himself in one letter (Amarna Letter EA 57).

Reign

As Tushratta of Mitanni lost control of the territory west of the Euphrates, the former vassal states were faced with trying to align themselves with Egypt or submit to Suppiluliuma I of Hatti.

Akizzi wrote several letters of the Amarna letters correspondence. Here he pleaded for help from the Egyptians against the Hittite invasion into former Mitanni territory. Even earlier egyptian kings (i.e. Thutmose III) had campaigned in this region, which Akizzi tries to refer to as a cause for the Egyptian king to come and "reclaim his" territory.

Amarna Letter EA52

A fragmentary text writing in Akkadian with some Hurrian glosses.

To the King of the Land of Egypt (KUR mi-is-ri^ki), a message from Akizzi. Akizzi wants the King of Egypt to aid him in the wars triggered in Syria by the Hittites following the fall of the Mitanni Empire. It mentions the (King of) the Land of Hatti (i.e. Suppiluliuma I). It also mentions Biryawaza (^mbi-ru-a-za).

Amarna Letter EA53

This is a letter from Akizzi to the Great King of Egypt (^mnam-ḫur-ia). The king is often identified as Akhenaten, but could rather be Tutankhamen. It mentions Etakkama of Kadesh and the King of the Land of Hatti. Akizzi begs the Great King of Egypt for help not to become part of the Hittite Empire.

Amarna Letter EA54

"To the King (LUGAL), my lord, a message from Akizzi your servant".

The letter mentions the arriving armies of Etakkama, Man of Kadesh (^ma-i-tu-ga-ma LU ^URUQi2-in-sa3), Arzawya, Man of Ruhizu, Tiwate, Man of Labana, and King of the Land of Hatti.

Amarna Letter EA55

This is a letter from Akizzi to the Great King of Egypt (^mnam-ḫur-ia). The king is often identified as Akhenaten, but could rather be Tutankhamen.

Amarna Letter EA56+361

Speak to the King (LUGAL), my lord, a message from Akizzi, your servant.

It mentions Taššu and Etakkama of Kadesh.

"Look, Etakkama seized all of our cities, but still we are the servants of my lord (...) the servants of Arsawuya of the city of Ruhizu (...) with Etakkama (...) they repeatedly attack me..."

Amarna Letter EA57

A very fragmentary text.

"...Puhura...Akizzi, the King of Qatna...the King of Barga..., and he had regularly gone... my lord's huradu-soldiers...to Puhuru... he brought me... to Puhuru". The letter mentions the city Tunip^ki and a person named ^mShumitti.

References

• Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1990, Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society 1990, p. 52
• K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions, Blackwell Publishing 2000, p. 67
• G. Maspero, 1904, History of Egypt, Part Four, Kessinger Publishing 2003, p. 278
• William L. Moran, The Amarna Letters, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987

External links

• Letters from Akizzi of Qatna