Muršili II facts for kids
Mursili II was a powerful king of the Hittite Empire, an ancient kingdom in what is now Turkey. He ruled from around 1321 BC to 1295 BC. Mursili II became king during a difficult time for his people.
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Becoming King of the Hittites
Mursili was the third son of Suppiluliuma I, a very strong Hittite king. His mother was Queen Henti. Mursili had an older brother named Arnuwanda II.
Mursili became king because his father and older brother both died from a terrible plague. This plague caused many problems for the Hittites in the 1330s BC.
When Mursili took the throne, many enemies of the Hittite Empire thought he was too young and inexperienced. They believed he would be a weak ruler. Rebellions broke out in different areas. The Kaskas in the mountains and the Arzawa kingdom in the west were among those who rebelled.
Mursili wrote about how his enemies mocked him. They said things like:
You are a child; you know nothing and instill no fear in me. Your land is now in ruins, and your infantry and chariotry are few. Your father had many soldiers. But you, who are a child, how can you match him?
Even though his enemies called him a "child," Mursili was old enough to rule. He proved them wrong by being a very strong and clever king.
Mursili's Military Victories
Mursili II quickly showed he was a great leader, just like his father. He wrote down his achievements in his "Annals," which are like a king's diary.
In his first two years, he fought against the Kaska tribes. He wanted to make sure the northern borders of his kingdom were safe.
Then, he turned his attention to the west. He stopped the king of Arzawa, Uhhaziti, from taking away Hittite allies.
In his ninth year as king, Mursili's army won an important battle. His cupbearer, Nuvanza, led the Hittite forces to defeat the Hayasan army at the Battle of Ganuvara. After this, the Hayasa-Azzi became loyal to the Hittites.
The Famous Eclipse
Mursili's "Annals" also mention a special event in his tenth year as king. He wrote about an "omen of the sun," which was a solar eclipse. This happened just as he was getting ready to fight the Hayasa-Azzi.
This eclipse is very important for historians. It helps them figure out the exact dates for events in the ancient Near East. There are two possible dates for this eclipse: June 24, 1312 BC, or April 13, 1308 BC.
Most experts agree on the 1312 BC date. This is because that eclipse would have been very dramatic over Anatolia (where Mursili was fighting). It would have been almost a total eclipse around noon. The 1308 BC eclipse would have been less noticeable in Anatolia, happening earlier in the morning.
Mursili II ruled for about 25 to 27 years. His son, Muwatalli II, became king after him.
Mursili's Family
Mursili had several children with his first wife, Gassulawiya. His sons included Muwatalli, Hattusili III, and Halpasulupi. He also had a daughter named Massanauzzi. She married Masturi, who ruled a kingdom that was allied with the Hittites.
Mursili later had more sons with his second wife, Tanuhepa. Their names are not known today.
Mursili's grandson, Mursili III, also became a king of the Hittites. Other grandchildren included Queen Maathorneferure and Tudhaliya IV.
See also
In Fiction
Mursili II appears in several fictional stories:
- In the novel I, the Sun by Janet Morris, Mursili II is an important character. The book is about his father, Suppiluliuma I.
- The manga series Red River (also called Anatolia Story) features Mursili II as Prince Kail Mursili. The story is about a Japanese girl who travels back in time to the Hittite Empire.
- Mursili II is a main character in the Amarna Trilogy by Grea Alexander. In these books, he tries to make the gods happy after bad things happen to the Hittites.
- He is also an important character in Gordon Doherty's novel, Empires of Bronze: Son of Ishtar. This book is about Mursili's third son, Hattusilis III.
