Zannanza
# Zannanza

Zannanza (died c. 1324 BC) was a Hittite prince, son of Suppiluliuma I, king of the Hittites. He is best known for almost becoming the Pharaoh of Egypt, and because his death caused a diplomatic incident between the Hittite and Egyptian Empires, resulting in warfare.

## Biography

The Egyptian Queen Dakhamunzu, who could have been Meritaten or Nefertiti, but is most often identified as Ankhesenamun, asked Suppiluliuma I to send over a son during the late Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt because she had recently been widowed by the death of Nibhururia (possibly Akhenaten, but more likely Tutankhamun), and had borne no heir. Her letter reads,

   My husband has died and I have no son. They say about you that you have many sons. You might give me one of your sons to become my husband. I would not wish to take one of my subjects as a husband... I am afraid.

It was extraordinary that a consort from outside of Egypt would be sought, however, so Suppiluliuma was cautious. After sending an envoy to verify her claim, he obliged her. His son, Zannanza, was chosen and sent to Egypt to become the new pharaoh. This could have led to efforts to make Egypt part of the Hittite Empire. Zannanza never made it past the Egyptian border, though exactly what became of him and how he died is unknown.

His father accused the Egyptians of murdering him. The new king of Egypt, Ay, denied the murder, but acknowledged the death. Angry letters were passed between the two nations, but the matter ended inconclusively. Hittite forces subsequently attacked Egyptian settlements in Syria. Sick prisoners of war brought back to the Hittite Empire after these attacks caused a deadly epidemic that spread rapidly throughout the empire. As a result, Suppiluliuma I himself died from the epidemic.

vteHittite New Kingdom royal family tree :

Himuili?

Tudhaliya I/IINikkalmati

Arnuwanda IAsmunikal

Hattusili II?Tudhaliya IIIDaduhepaZida

Tudhaliya the YoungHenti (1)Šuppiluliuma I(2) Tawananna

Arnuwanda IITelipinuSarri-KusuhZannanzaGassulawiya (1)Mursili II(2) Tanuhepa

Talmi-SarrumaSahurunuwaMuwatalli IIHalpasulupiMassanauzziHattusili IIIPuduhepa

Ini-TesubUrhi-TesubKuruntaNerikkailinumerous daughters and sonsTudhaliya IV

Talmi-TesubHartapuArnuwanda IIISuppiluliuma II

Kuzi-Tesub :

* (1) = 1st spouse
* (2) = 2nd spouse
* Small caps indicates a Great King (LUGAL.GAL) of the Land of Hatti; italic small caps indicates a Great Queen or Tawananna.
* Dashed lines indicate adoption.
* Solid lines indicate marriage (if horizontal) or parentage (if vertical).

References:

Trevor Bryce (1997). The Kingdom of the Hittites. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.

Trevor Bryce (2012). The World of the Neo-Hittite Kingdoms. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Volkert Haas (2006). Die hethitische Literatur. Berlin, Germany: de Gruyter. :

Notes:

↑ Scholars have suggested that Tudhaliya I/II was the son of Himuili and thus a grandson of the Hittite king Huzziya II (Bryce 1997, p. 131).↑ Bryce (1997) does not consider it clear whether Tudhaliya I/II was one king or two (p. 133).1 2 3 Bryce (1997), p. 139.↑ The existence of Hattusili II is doubtful (Bryce 1997, pp. 153–154).↑ Bryce (1997), p. 158.↑ Bryce (1997), p. 172.1 2 3 4 Bryce (1997), p. 174.1 2 Bryce (1997), p. 168.↑ Also known as Malnigal; daughter of Burnaburias II of Babylonia (Bryce 1997, p. 173).↑ ‘Great priest’ in Kizzuwadna and king (lugal) of Aleppo (Bryce 1997, p. 174).1 2 3 4 King (lugal) of Carchemish.↑ Bryce (1997), pp. 174, 203–204.↑ Zannanza died on his way to Egypt to marry a pharaoh's widow, probably Ankhesenpaaten, the widow of Tutankhamun (Bryce 1997, pp. 196–198).↑ Bryce (1997), p. 227.1 2 3 Bryce (1997), p. 230.↑ Bryce (1997), p. 220.↑ Bryce (1997), p. 222.↑ Haas (2006), p. 91.↑ Massanauzzi married Masturi, king of the Seha River Land (Bryce 1997, p. 313).↑ Bryce (1997), p. 296.↑ Puduhepa was the daughter of the Kizzuwadnan priest Pentipsarri (Bryce 1997, p. 273).↑ Bryce (1997), pp. 346, 363.↑ King (lugal) of Tarhuntassa (Bryce 1997, p. 296); apparently later Great King of Hatti (Bryce 1997, p. 354).↑ Nerikkaili married a daughter of Bentesina, king of Amurru (Bryce 1997, p. 294).↑ Two daughters of Hattusili III were married to the pharaoh Ramesses II; one was given the Egyptian name Ma(hor)nefrure. Another, Gassuwaliya, married into the royal house of Amurru. Kilushepa was married to a king of Isuwa. A daughter married into the royal family of Babylon. A sister of Tudhaliya IV married Sausgamuwa, king of Amurru after his father Bentesina. From Bryce (1997), pp. 294 and 312.↑ Bryce (1997), p. 332.↑ Bryce (1997), p. 363. Tudhaliya IV probably married a Babylonian princess, known by her title of Great Princess (dumu.sal gal) (Bryce 1997, pp. 294, 331).↑ Bryce (1997), p. 363.↑ Great King of Tarhuntassa; son of Mursili, the Great King, who is likely identical with Mursili III/Urhi-Tesub (Bryce 2012, p. 21 f.).1 2 Bryce (1997), p. 361.↑ Last documented Great King of the Land of Hatti.↑ King and then Great King of Carchemish (Bryce 1997, pp. 384–385). :

## In fiction

* Janet Morris wrote a detailed biographical novel, I, the Sun, whose subject was Suppiluliuma I. Zannanza is an important figure in this novel.
* In the historical fiction manga Red River, Zannanza appeared as a character. Like his inspiration, Zannanza was chosen to become the next Pharaoh after Ankhesenamun sent the letter after Tutankhamun died. While en route to Egypt, he and the rest of his party were ambushed and he was murdered. After the attack, the main character Yuri Suzuki is left alive. She then dissolved any disputes between the two nations whereas in history the Hittites attacked the Egyptian settlements in Syria.
* In the historical fiction The Egyptian Zannansa is poisoned on his way to Egypt by the narrator Sinuhe who is sent by Horemheb and the priest Ay who want to prevent the Hittites taking over Egypt.
