Yamhad and Qatna Kıngdoms in the Old Assyrian Period

Abstract

The Old Assyrian Period corresponds to approximately 2000-1600 BC. During this period, the Assyrians started to expand under the rule of Šamši-Adad I and aimed to reach the coastal regions of Syria by controlling Mari. However, the Yamhad Kingdom centred in Halpa was an important obstacle in the Assyrian expansion policy. Moreover, during the Sumu-Epuh period, the Yamhad Kingdom captured the city of Dur-Šamši-Adad, changed its name to Dur-Sumu-Epuh and achieved significant successes against the Assyrians. For this reason, the Assyrians chose to cooperate with the Qatna Kingdom against the Yamhad Kingdom. This study aims to emphasise the importance of Yamhad and Qatna Kingdoms in the Old Assyrian Period. In this context, Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Assyrian and Mari texts were analysed to reveal the roles of Qatna and Yamhad Kingdoms in the Old Assyrian period. As a result of the study, it is understood that the Yamhad Kingdom was strong during the reign of Šamši-Adad I and the Assyrian king could not defeat this kingdom alone. Therefore, it was observed that the Assyrian king tried to establish sovereignty over the Yamhad Kingdom in co-operation with Qatna. However, with the death of Šamši-Adad I, the political balance of power in the region changed.

Keywords

• Qatna
• Yamhad
• Old Assyria
• Tell El Mishrifeh
• Syria

Eski Asur Döneminde Yamhad ve Qatna Krallıkları

Öz

Eski Asur Dönemi yaklaşık olarak M. Ö. 2000-1600 yıllarına denk gelmektedir. Bu dönemde Asurlular, I. Šamši-Adad yönetiminde genişlemeye başlamış ve Mari’yi kontrol altına alarak Suriye’nin sahil bölgelerine ulaşmayı hedeflemişlerdir. Ancak, Halpa merkezli Yamhad Krallığı, Asurluların genişleme politikasında önemli bir engel olmaktaydı. Ayrıca Sumu-Epuh döneminde Yamhad Krallığı, Dur-Šamši-Adad kentini ele geçirerek adını Dur-Sumu-Epuh olarak değiştirmiş ve Asurlara karşı önemli başarılar elde etmiştir. Bu nedenle Asurlular, Yamhad Krallığı’na karşı Qatna Krallığı ile iş birliği yapma yoluna gitmiştir. Bu çalışmamız, Eski Asur Dönemi’nde Yamhad ve Qatna Krallıklarının önemini vurgulamayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, Antik Mısır, Eski Asur ve Mari metinleri incelenerek Qatna ve Yamhad Krallıklarının Eski Asur dönemindeki rolleri ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, Yamhad Krallığı’nın I. Šamši-Adad döneminde güçlü olduğu ve Asur kralının bu krallığı tek başına yenemediği anlaşılmaktadır. Bu nedenle, Asur kralının Qatna ile iş birliği yaparak Yamhad Krallığı üzerinde egemenlik kurmaya çalıştığı görülmüştür. Ancak I. Šamši-Adad’ın ölümüyle birlikte bölgedeki siyasi güç dengeleri değişmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Qatna
• Yamhad
• Eski Asur
• Tell El Mişrifeh
• Suriye

Kaynakça

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