Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty

Document Text

Hittite Version

§1. [The treaty which] Ramses, [Beloved] of Amon, Great King, King [of Egypt, Hero, concluded] on [a tablet of silver] with Hattusili, [Great King], King of Hatti, his brother, in order to establish [great] peace and great [brotherhood] between them forever.

§2. Thus says Ramses, Beloved of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt, Hero of All Lands; son of Minmuarea (Seti I), Great King, King of Egypt, Hero: grandson of Minpahtarea (Ramses I). Great King, King of Egypt, Hero: to Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti, Hero: son of Mursili, Great King, King of Hatti, Hero: grandson of Suppiluliuma, Great King, King of Hatti, Hero:

§3. I have now established good brotherhood and good peace between us forever, in order likewise to establish good peace and good brotherhood in [the relations] of Egypt with Hatti forever. As far as the relations of the Great King, King of Egypt, [and] the Great King, King of Hatti, are concerned, from the beginning of time and forever [by means of a treaty] the god has not allowed the making of war between them. Ramses, Beloved of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt, is doing this in order to bring about the relationship which [the Sun-god] and the Storm-god established for Egypt with Hatti in accordance with their relationship from the beginning of time, so that for eternity he might [not permit] the making of war between [them].

§4. And Ramses, Beloved of Amon, Great King, King [of Egypt], has indeed created (the relationship) [on] this [day] by means of a treaty upon a tablet of silver, with [Hattusili], Great King, King of Hatti, his brother, in order to establish good peace and good brotherhood [between them] forever. He is [my] brother, and I am his brother. , and I am at peace with him [forever. And] we will create our brotherhood and our [peace], and they will be better than the former brotherhood and peace of [Egypt with] Hatti.

§5. Ramses, Great King, King of Egypt, is in good peace and good brotherhood with [Hattusili], Great King of Hatti. The sons of Ramses, Beloved of Amon, , King of Egypt, will be at peace and [brothers with] the sons of Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti, forever. And they will remain as in our relationship of brotherhood [and of] peace, so that Egypt will be at peace with Hatti and they will be brothers like us forever.

§6. And Ramses, Beloved of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt, for all time shall not open hostilities against Hatti in order to take anything from it. And Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti, for all time shall not open hostilities against Egypt in order to take [anything] from it. The eternal regulation which the Sun-god and the Storm-god made for Egypt with Hatti is intended peace and brotherhood and to prohibit hostilities between them. And [Ramses], Beloved of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt, has taken it up in order to create peace from this day on. Egypt will be at peace and brotherly with Hatti forever.

§7. And if someone else, an enemy, comes against Hatti, and Hattusili, [Great King, King of Hatti], sends to me: “Come to me, to my aid against him,” then [Ramses, Beloved] of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt, must send his infantry and his chariotry, and they will defeat [his enemy and] take revenge for Hatti.

§8. And if Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti, [becomes angry) with his own [subjects], after they have offended against him, and he sends to Ramses, Great King, King of Egypt, on account of this, then Ramses, Beloved of Amon, must send his infantry and his chariotry, [and] they will destroy all with whom he is angry.

§9. [And if] someone else, an enemy, comes against Egypt, and Ramses, Beloved of Amon, [King] of Egypt, your brother, sends to Hattusili, King of Hatti, his brother: “Come to my aid against him,” then Hattusili, [King] of Hatti, shall send his infantry and his chariotry, and they will defeat his enemy.

§10. And if Ramses, Beloved [of Amon, King] of Egypt, becomes angry with his own subjects, after they have committed an offense against [him, and he sends] to Hattusili, King of Hatti, his(!) brother, on account of this, then Hattusili, [King] of Hatti, his brother, shall send [his] infantry and his chariotry, and they will destroy all [with whom] I am angry.

§11. And the son of Hattusili, King of Hatti, shall be made King of Hatti in place of Hattusili, his father, after the many years of Hattusili, [King] of Hatti. And if [the people] of Hatti commit an offense against him, then [Ramses]. Beloved of Amon, must send [infantry] and chariotry to his aid and take revenge for him.

§12. [If a nobleman) flees from Hatti, or if a population in the territory of the King of Hatti [comes over] to Ramses, Beloved of Amon, Great King, [King of Egypt], then I, Ramses, [Beloved of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt], must seize them and send [them into the hand of Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti].

§13. [And if] a single man comes, or if two [obscure men come to Ramses, Beloved of Amon], in order to enter into [his] service, then [I, Ramses, Beloved of Amon, must seize them and send them to] Hattusili, King of Hatti.

§14. And if [a nobleman flees from Egypt, or] if a single population [comes to the King of Amurru, then Benteshina shall seize them] and send them to the King of Hatti, [his] lord. [And Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti, shall send them to Ramses, Beloved] of Amon, Great King, King of Egypt.

§15. And [if a single man flees, or if two obscure men flee from the territory of the King] of Egypt, and [do not wish to continue in his service, then Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti], shall give them into the hand of his brother and [not permit them to dwell in Hatti].

§16. [And if a dignitary flees from Hatti and comes to Egypt(?)—or if two] men—in order not [to continue in the service of Hattusili, Great King, King] of Hatti, [then Ramses, Beloved of Amon, must seize them] and send them to [Hattusili, Great King, King of Hatti], his brother.

§17. [And if] a single [dignitary] flees [from Egypt] and comes to [Hatti—or if two men—then] Hattusili, [Great] King, [King of Hatti, shall seize them and] send them(!) to [Ramses, Beloved] of Amon, [Great King, King of Egypt, his brother].

§18. [And if] a single man flees from [Hatti, or] two men, [or three men, and they come to] Ramses, Beloved [of Amon, Great King, King] of Egypt, his brother, [then Ramses], Beloved of Amon, Great King, [King of Egypt, must seize them and send them] to Hattusili, his brother [ … ]—for they are brothers. But [they shall not punish them for] their offenses. They shall [not] tear out [their tongues or their eyes]. And [they shall not mutilate(?)] their ears or [their] feet. [And they shall not destroy(?) their households, together with their wives] and their sons.

§19. And if [a single man flees from Egypt, or] two men, or three men, and [they come to Hattusili, Great King], King of Hatti, my brother shall seize them and send [them to me, Ramses, Beloved of Amon, Great King, King) of Egypt—for Ramses, Great King, King [of Egypt, and Hattusili are brothers. But they shall not punish them for their offenses. They shall] not [tear out their tongues] or their eyes. And [they shall not mutilate(?) their ears or their feet. And they shall not destroy(?) their households], together with their wives and their sons.

[From this point a connected translation is impossible. The lines immediately following §19 seem to continue the discussion of the problem of fugitives.… The final two lines … indicate the presence on the original silver tablet sent from Egypt of two seals: “Seal [of Ramses, Beloved of Amon, …], Seal [of the Sun-god(?)…]&rdquo]

Egyptian Version

Year 21, first month of Peret, day 21 under the incarnation of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre-Setepenre, Son of Ra, Ramses II, given life eternally and everlastingly, who is beloved of Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah-South-of-his-Wall-the lord of Ankh-Tawy, Mut lady of Isheru, and Khonsu-Neferhotep. He has appeared on the throne of Horus of the living like his father Horus-of-the-Horizon, forever and eternally.

On this day His Majesty was at the city of Piramses-beloved-of-Amun doing what his fathers Amun-Ra-Horakhty-Atum, the Lord of the Two Lands, He of Heliopolis and what Amun-of-Ramses II and Ptah-of-Ramses II, and Seth-Great-of-strength, the Son of Nut (all) praise as they give to him millions of Jubilee Festivals and everlasting peaceful years. All lands and all foreign countries are prostrate under his sandals forever.

Arrival of the royal messenger and chariot officer Netcherwymes; the royal messenger … [and the royal messenger] … along with the messenger of the land of Hatti Nerkil; and of … Tili-Teshub; and of the second-ranked messenger of Hatti Ramose; as well as the messenger [of the land of Carca]mish Yapusili; bearing the silver tablet which the Great Chief of Hatti, Hattusilis III sent to Pharaoh—alive, prosperous, and healthy—in order to beg for peace from the incarnation of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Son of Ra, Ramses II, who is given life eternally and everlastingly like his father Ra, every day.

Copy of the silver tablet which the Great Chief of Hatti, Hattusilis III sent to Pharaoh, L.P.H., in the hands of his messenger Tili-Teshub and his messenger Ramose in order to beg for peace before the incarnation of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Usermaatre-Setepenre, Son Ra, Ramses II, the Bull of Rulers who makes his borders wherever he wishes in every land:

The treaty which the Great Chief of Hatti, Hattusilis III, the Hero, the son of Mursilis II, the Great Chief of Hatti, the Hero, and grandson of Suppiluliumas I, the Great Chief of Hatti, the Hero, made on a silver tablet for Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt, the Hero, the son of Menmaatre, the Great Ruler of Egypt, the Hero, and grandson of Menpehtyre, the Great Ruler of Egypt, the Hero: A perfect treaty of peace and brotherhood which establishes [perfect] peace [and perfect brotherhood between] us for eternity.

Now long ago, from time immemorial, with respect to the relations between the Great Ruler of Egypt with the Great Chief of Hatti, the God prevented hostilities from occurring between them by means of a treaty. But in the time of Muwatallis II, the Great Chief of Hatti my brother, he fought with … the Great Ruler of Egypt.

But from now on, beginning today, see: Hattusilis III, the Great Chief of Hatti [has made] a treaty to re-establish the relationship which Ra and the Storm God made between the land of Egypt and the land of Hatti to prevent hostilities from happening between them forevermore.

See: Hattusilis III the Great Chief of Hatti binds himself by treaty with Usermaatre-Setepenre the Great Ruler of Egypt starting today in order to create perfect peace and perfect brotherhood between us forever; he being brotherly and at peace with me and I being brotherly and at peace with him forevermore. Now after Muwatallis II, the Great Chief of Hatti, my brother went to his fate, Hattusilis III sat as the Great Chief of Hatti upon the throne of his father.  See: I am with Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt, and our peace and brotherhood is perfect. It is even better than the former peace and brotherhood which had existed in the land.

See: I, the Great Chief of Hatti, am with [Usermaatre-Setepenre] the Great Ruler of Egypt in perfect peace and perfect brotherhood. May the grandchildren of the Great Chief of Hatti have brotherhood and peace with the grandchildren of Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt, for such is our plan for brotherhood and our plan for peace: that the land of Egypt might be with the land of Hatti in peace and brotherhood, just like we are, forever more, with no hostility between them.

The Great Chief of Hatti will never invade the land of Egypt in order to take something from it. Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt will never invade the land of Hatti in order to take anything from it.

As for the normal relations which existed in the time of Suppiluliumas I, the Great Chief of Hatti and likewise, the normal relations which existed in the time of Muwatallis, the Great Chief of Hatti, my father, I take hold of it. See: Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt takes hold of the treaty which he made with us now, beginning from today. We both take hold of it and we shall behave according to the agreed stipulations.

If some enemy should invade the lands of Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt and he writes to the Great Chief of Hatti saying: “Come and ally with me against him,” then the Great Chief of Hatti should act by [coming to ally with him], and the Great Chief of Hatti will kill his enemy. But if the Great Chief of Hatti does not wish to go, then he will dispatch his army and his chariots and they will kill his enemy.

Or, if Ramses II [the Great Ruler of Egypt] becomes enraged at his subjects, and they do some evil act against him and he goes to kill them; then the Great Chief of Hatti must [join with him to destroy] all those against whom he is angry.

Now [if some enemy should attack] the Great Chief [of Hatti, and he writes to] Usermaatre-Setepenre the [Great Ruler of Egypt, he should] come as an ally to kill his enemies. Now if the wish of Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt is to come, he will come [and he will send back a response to the land of Hatti. But, if it is not the wish of Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt to come, he should dispatch his army and his] chariots as a response to the land of Hatti.

Or if subjects of the Great Chief of Hatti betray him and Ramses II, [the Great Ruler of Egypt hears about it, then Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt shall act to destroy all those against whom he is angry].

[See: The land] of Hatti and the [land of Egypt are at peace and in brotherhood forever according to our] sworn oath. I will go to my fate. Then Ramses II the Great Ruler of Egypt, who will live forever! will come to [the land of] Hatti [to ensure that they make my son their master and to prevent them from making someone else their master].

[Now if they should commit a crime against him] and are opposed to making him their master, then Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt should not remain silent about it. He should come and destroy the land of Hatti, and he should restore the Great Chief of Hatti and likewise the land of Hatti.

[If a great man flees and comes to] the Great Chief of Hatti— or if a town [among those belonging] to the territory of Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt flees— if they come to the Great Chief of Hatti, then the Great Chief of Hatti should not receive them. The Great Chief of Hatti should return them to Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt, their lord, L.P.H.

Or if one or two men, who are unknown, flee [from the land of Egypt] and come to the land of Hatti to become subjects of someone else, then they should not be allowed to stay in the land of Hatti. They should be returned to Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt.

If a great man should flee from the land of Hatti and [come to] Usermaatre-Setepenre the [Great Ruler] of Egypt— or if a town, or a district, or [a city among] those belonging to the land of Hatti flees— if they come to Ramses II the Great Ruler of Egypt, then Usermaatre-Setepenre the Great Ruler of Egypt should not receive them. Ramses II, the Great Ruler of Egypt should return them to the Great Chief [of Hatti]. They shall not be left there.

Likewise if one or two men, who are unknown, flee and they come to the land of Egypt in order to become subjects of another, Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt shall not leave them there. He should return them to the Great Chief of Hatti.

As for these terms of the treaty which the Great Chief of Hatti has made with Ramses II, the Great Ruler [of Egypt which are inscribed] upon the silver tablet:

As for these terms, 1000 Gods and Goddesses of the land of Hatti and 1000 Gods and Goddesses of the land of Egypt are here with me as witnesses who have heard these terms:

The Sun God, the Lord of Heaven

The Sun God of the town of Arunna

The Storm God, the Lord of Heaven

The Storm God of Hatti

The Storm God of the town of Arinna

The Storm God of the town of Zippalanda

The Storm God of the town of Pattiariq

The Storm God of the town of Hissaspa

The Storm God of the town of Saressa

The Storm God of the town of Aleppo

The Storm God of the town of Lihzina

The Storm God of the town of …

[the Storm God of the town of] …

[the Storm God of the town of] …

[the Storm God of the land of Masa

The Storm God of the town of Sahipina

Antaret of the land of Hatti

The God of Zitkharriya

The God of Karzis

The God of Halpantaliyas

The Goddess of the town of Karahna

The Goddess of the wastes

The Goddess of Nineveh

The Goddess of Zin …

The God of Nananti

The God of Kulitti

The God of Hebat

The Queen of Heaven

The Gods, the Lords of the Oath

The Goddess, the Mistresses of Existence

The Mistress of the Oath

Ishkhara, the Mistress

The Mountains and the Rivers of the land of Hatti

The Gods of the land of Qizzuwattna

Amun

Ra

Seth

The male Gods and female Goddesses

The Mountains and the Rivers of the land of Egypt

The Heavens, the Earth, the Great Sea, the Winds, and the Clouds

With regard to these terms which are on the silver tablet concerning the land of Hatti and the land of Egypt:

As for anyone who shall not keep them, 1000 Gods of the land of Hatti and 1000 Gods of the land of Egypt will destroy his house, his land and his subjects.

Now, as for anyone who shall keep these terms which are on this silver tablet, be they from Hatti or be they Egyptian, and if they do neglect them, then 1000 Gods of the land of Hatti and 1000 Gods of the land of Egypt make him flourish and alive, along with household, his land, and his subjects.

If a man flees from the land of Egypt, or two or three, and they come to the Great Chief of Hatti, then the Great Chief of Hatti shall seize them and he shall return them to Usermaatre-Setepenre, the Great Ruler of Egypt.

But with regard to a man who is brought back to Ramses II the Great Ruler of Egypt, do not let his crimes stand against him, do not let his house or his wives or his children be destroyed. Do not let him be killed, nor let his eyes, his ears, his mouth or his legs be harmed. Do not let any crime stand against him.

Likewise, if men flee from the land of Hatti—whether one, or two or three—and they come to Usermaatre the Great Ruler of Egypt, then let Ramses II the Great Ruler of Egypt seize them and let him let him return them to the Great Chief of Hatti.

But the Great Chief of Hatti shall not let their crimes stand against them. Do let not his house be destroyed or his wives or his children. Do not let him be killed, nor let his eyes, his ears, his mouth or his legs be harmed. Do not let any crime stand against him.

What is in the center of the front side of the silver tablet: A picture of the Storm God embracing the Great Chief of Hatti surrounded with a circle of words saying: “the seal of the Storm God, the Ruler of Earth and Heaven, the seal of the treaty which Hattusilis III the Great Chief of Hatti, Hero, and son of Mursilis II, the Great Chief of Hatti, the Hero, made.”

What is inside the circular image: “the seal of the Storm God, the ruler of Earth and Heaven.”

What is in the center of its other side: An image of the Goddess of Hatti embracing the Great Lady of Hatti surrounded with a circle of words saying: “the seal of the Sun God of the town of Arunna, the Lord of the Earth,” and “the seal of Pudukhepa, the Great Lady of the land of Hatti; the daughter of the land of Qizzuwatana; the [priestess] of the Sun God of Arunna; the Mistress of the Land; and the servant of the Goddess.”

What is inside the circular image: “the seal of the Sun God of Arunna, the lord of every land.”