Shuppiluliuma I
Shuppiluliuma I was king of the
Hittites from
1357 BC-
1323 BC. Son of King Hattushili II, father of King Murshili II. Known as the most powerful commander and most successful statesman in Hittite history, also a master builder of large stone structures decorated with stone reliefs. It was during his reign that concepts of the sacred nature of royal leaders developed.
He gave his daughter Mursil in marriage to Mattiuza, King of Mitanni; but after the alliance, the powerful Mitannis, already in decline, were reduced to a smaller state with limited independence from the Hittites.