HATTUSILI III

(fl. 1300–1237 BC)

King of the Hittites. Youngest son of Mursili II and Gassuliyawiya. He served with his brother, Muwattalli II, and was granted an important viceroyalty in the northern part of the kingdom. He was with the Hittite forces in Syria at the time of the battle of Kadesh in which he may have fought. He fell out with his brother’s successor, his nephew, Urhi-Teshub, and deposed him c. 1295 BC. He faced hostility from Egypt but negotiated a famous peace treaty in 1258 BC. His daughter, Maathorneferure, later married Ramesses II c. 1245 BC. Correspondence between the two monarchs has been found at the Hittite capital Hattusha.