A Game of Thrones 

Bloodshed, Murder and Conspiracy in the Quest for Predominance Preceding the Establishment of the Hittite Kingdom

With the establishment of Ḫattuša (modern Boğazköy) as administrative capital of a large-scale political entity in Central Anatolia around the middle of the 17th century the Hittite kingdom becomes tangible to modern historians. Although no textual records have been recovered from the preceding century, it is clear that the move of the capital does not present a dynastic change and that the Hittite administration that emerges from the textual record of the ruins of Boğazköy was already in place prior to its establishment. A number of texts show that rule over Central Anatolia was characterised by an intricate network of regional centres of power with members of the royal family in strategic geographic strongholds, which not infrequently lead to unrest and political turmoil as the regional governors sought for advantages in throne succession. Our records start at the moment when a certain Ḫattušili I - a name referencing the city he chose as administrative capital - emerges as victorious and is able to unite the warring factions during what appears to have been a long reign. His so-called Political Testament is of particular interest in the reconstruction of the events leading up to and into his reign as first king of the Hittite kingdom at Ḫattuša. The extraordinary and unparalleled document presents a vivid account of conspiracies, uprisings and jealousy within the ruling class and gives a unique insight into the personal qualms and fears of a king in the face of death.