the Hurrians
Lassi, via Wikimedia Commons
No one is sure where the Hurrian’s came from. The first mention of the Hurrians came from the Akkadian text, where it states that various Hurrian states had become part of the Akkadian kingdom of Naram-Sin.
Clercq, M. de (Louis), via Wikimedia Commons
After the fall of the Akkadians, the Hurrian’s enjoyed some autonomy and expanded into Northern Mesopotamia.
ALFGRN, via Wikimedia Commons
Urkesh becomes the major capital of the Hurrain kingdom, which was founded by Tishatal.
Clercq, M. de (Louis), via Wikimedia Commons
Around 2100, King Shulgi of the Neo-Sumerian Empire expanded North and battled with Hurrians. After which the Hurrians disappeared from history for a time.
هــشـام, via Wikimedia Commons
The Hurrians reappeared after the Assyrian king Shamshi-Adad died, opening up land for the Hurrians to reemerge east of the Tigris river. Hurrians also started migrating further North and East.
Javierfv1212, via Wikimedia Commons
Kingdom of the Mitanni was formed from a collision of the various states of the Hurrians who had migrated and expanded into Northern Mesopotamia and Eastern Anatolia, absorbing surrounding states mostly through diplomacy.
Javierfv1212, via Wikimedia Commons
With the Hittites expanding from the north, the Mitanni and Hurrians would come into conflict with them and would lose to the powerful Hittites, under Murshili I, who would destroy the Yamhad and march on to Babylon and sack it.
Moyen Orient Amarna, via Wikimedia Commons
The Matanni and the Hurrians attacked the Hittites gaining territory as they successfully drove the Hittites back. Hantili,the Hittite king, eventually stopped the Mitanni and the Hurrain’s advance, however his wife and children were captured in the process.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, via Wikimedia Commons
The Mitanni were expanding into Egyptian owned territory of Canaan and the Levant, by buying off their allies in these areas.
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The battle of Magiddo saw Thutmose III raid the Mitanni allies of Canaan and the Levant.
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Around 1430, the Harrian King Saushtatar sent aid to the Canaan allied to assist fighting off the Egyptians and when the Assyrians who had, at that time, been absorbed by the Hurrians and Mitanni, had reached out to the Egyptians, Saushtatar sacked Ashur, the Assyrian capital. Saushtatar then travelled east to stop the Egyptian advance and then north to face the Hittites.
Moyen Orient Amarna, via Wikimedia Commons
Artatama I brokered peace with the Egyptians over many years of negotiations, regarding the disputed territory to the East.
Dosseman, via Wikimedia Commons
King of the Hittites, Suppiluliuma I resolved other conflicts to the North and then turned South to the Mittani and Hurrians. With the Hurrian King Artashumara being assassinated and his successor Tushratta being contested regarding legitimacy. Tushratta, to cement his reign, went to war with the Hittites, with Tushratta being successful, however Suppiluliuma opened talks with the rebel Hurrainian king. With support behind Tushratta, Suppiluliuma defeated the Mitanni. The Assyrians, under Ashur-Uballit saw their opportunity and destroyed the Maitanni. Artatama II remained the king of the Mitanni under Assyrian rule.
Javierfv1212, via Wikimedia Commons
Around 1270, the Mitanni, who now resided in the state of Hanigalbat, vassal king Wasashatta rebelled against the Assyrians and was met with a crushing defeat. The Matanni or the Hurrains would not emerge again. defeated the Mitanni. The Assyrians, under Ashur-Uballit saw their opportunity and destroyed the Maitanni. Artatama II remained the king of the Mitanni under Assyrian rule.