Hattusili I

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Labarna II was the first king of the Hittite empire to reign from Hattusa (while the earlier kings had been at Neša), taking the throne name of Hattusili I on that occasion. He reigned ca. 1586–1556 BC (short chronology).

He is the earliest Hittite ruler for whom contemporary records have been found. In addition to "King of Hattusa", he took the title "Man of Kushara", a reference to the prehistoric capital and home of the Hittites, before they had occupied Neša. A cuneiform tablet found in 1957 written in both the Hittite and the Akkadian language provides details of six years of his reign.

In it, he claims to have extended Hittite domain to the sea, and in the second year, to have subdued Alalakh and other cities in Syria. In the third year, he campaigned against Arzawa in western Anatolia, then returned to Syria to spend the next three years retaking his former conquests from the Hurrians, who had occupied them in his absence.

He built a hill citadel at Hattusa (modern Boghazkoy).

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Preceded by
Labarna I
Hittite king
ca. 1586 – 1556 BC
Succeeded by
Mursili I