Hittite Wars of Survival

Invasions of Hatti
Part of Kaskian-Hittite Wars

Hatti before the Invasions
Datec. 1400-1350 BC (short chronology)
Location
Result

Hittite victory

  • The Hittites reasserts their authority on the international stage
  • Transition to Hittite New Kingdom
Territorial
changes
  • Hatti initially lost much of its Heartlands territory, being reduced to area around Šamuḫa. Šamuḫa subsequently became the capital city of the Kingdom.
  • After the re-conquests, Hatti retook its lost lands.
Belligerents
Hittites Kaska
Arzawa
Hayasa-Azzi
Isuwa
Commanders and leaders
Casualties and losses
Much of the lands of Hatti ravaged and in ruins. Many taken as war captives to Hatti.

The Wars of Survival were a series of wars between the Hittite Empire and its neighbours including Arzawa, Kaška, and Hayasa-Azzi. The wars, which lasted from c. 1400 BC to 1350 BC proved to be an existential period for the Hittites, whose capital city of Ḫattuša was sacked and whose territory was reduced to a small area around Šamuḫa. However, the Hittite general and future king Šuppiluliuma regained all of their lost territory and embarked on punitive expeditions which firmly reestablished the Hittites as a major power.