Hattusili

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. Ruler of the Hittite Empire during the late Bronze Age, known for his diplomatic relations and treaty negotiations with neighboring kingdoms
2. A key figure in Hittite history, recognized for solidifying alliances and maintaining stability in the region through strategic marriages
3. Esteemed monarch associated with significant military campaigns and the expansion of Hittite influence, along with efforts in diplomacy and trade relations

Etymology: Hattusili is a Hittite royal name meaning roughly "man of Hattusa," formed from "Hattusa," the capital of the Hittite kingdom in central Anatolia, and the suffix "-ili," which marks origin or belonging. The people who lived there were not originally called Hittites. The city's name preserves that of the Hattians, an earlier population whose language was not Indo-European, and the later Hittite rulers adopted the name "Hatti" for their realm. The modern label "Hittite" comes from the Hebrew Bible's "Hittim" by way of Latin. Two kings carried the name. Hattusili I, who ruled around 1650–1620 BCE, moved the royal seat to Hattusa and laid the groundwork for the kingdom's growth. Hattusili III, who ruled around 1267–1237 BCE, seized the throne from his young nephew and later wrote a self-justifying account of his rise in Akkadian. He also negotiated a famous peace treaty with the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, whose Hittite and Egyptian versions survive.

Synonyms: hattusili I, hattusili II, hittite king