Zannanza

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Ankhesenpaaten, thought to be the queen of Egypt who invited Suppiluliuma I to send his son, Zannanza to become her consort

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Prince Zannanza (died c.1324 BC) was a 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 Empire and Egypt, that resulted in warfare.

The Egyptian Queen Dakhamunzu, who could have been Meritaten or Nefertiti, but is most often identified as, Ankhesenpaaten, asked King 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." ^[1]

The Egyptian royal lineage was traced through its women so marriage to this queen would enable him to become the pharaoh. It was extraordinary that a consort from outside of Egypt would be sought, however, so Suppiluliuma I 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, and exactly what became of him, 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 [1].