Zidanta I was a king of the
Hittites
The Hittites () were an Anatolian people who played an important role in establishing first a kingdom in Kussara (before 1750 BC), then the Kanesh or Nesha kingdom (c. 1750–1650 BC), and next an empire centered on Hattusa in north-centra ...
(Old Kingdom), ruling for 10 years, ca. 1560–1550 BC (
middle chronology
The chronology of the ancient Near East is a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Historical inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers: "in the year X of king Y". Com ...
)
or 1496–1486 BC (
short chronology timeline
The chronology of the ancient Near East is a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Historical inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers: "in the year X of king Y". Com ...
). According to the
Telepinu Proclamation Telipinu (or Telepinu) Proclamation is a Hittite edict, written during the reign of King Telipinu, c. 1525-1500 BCE. The text is classified as CTH 19 in the Catalogue of Hittite Texts.
The edict is significant because it made possible to reconst ...
, this king became a
ruler
A ruler, sometimes called a rule, line gauge, or scale, is a device used in geometry and technical drawing, as well as the engineering and construction industries, to measure distances or draw straight lines.
Variants
Rulers have long ...
by
murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...
.
Zidanta was married to the daughter of
Hantili
Hantili I was a king of the Hittites during the Hittite Old Kingdom. His reign lasted for 30 years, from c. 1590 to c. 1560 BC (middle chronology).
Biography
Rise to power
According to the Telepinu Proclamation, Hantili was the royal cup-bearer ...
, brother-in-law to King
Mursili I
Mursili I (also known as Mursilis; sometimes transcribed as Murshili) was a king of the Hittites 1620-1590 BC, as per the middle chronology, the most accepted chronology in our times, (or alternatively c. 1556–1526 BC, short chronology), and wa ...
. Zidanta encouraged and helped Hantili to kill Mursili and seize the throne.
Reign of Mursili I
At the end of Hantili’s life, Zidanta killed Pišeni, the legitimate heir
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...
, together with Pišeni’s children and foremost servants, and so made it possible for himself to become king.
It is known that his wife’s name ends with either -''ša'' or ''-ta''.
Zidanta was killed by his own son, Ammuna, who then succeeded him.
Notes
External links
Reign of Zidanta I
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zidanta 01
Hittite kings
15th-century BC rulers