Gift Recipients and Royal In-Laws

A key insight from this study is that diplomatic marriages between kings and allies' daughters, along with the granting of land to loyal officials, played significant roles in maintaining political stability during the Late Bronze Age (1550–1200 BCE). The research examines how Burna-Buriash II of Babylon leveraged these strategies, including marrying his daughters to prominent figures such as the pharaoh Akhenaten and the Hittite king Suppiluliuma I. It also explores the consequences of these alliances, such as Tawananna's conflict with Suppiluliuma I's son, and the legacy of Burna-Buriash II's marriage to an Assyrian princess, whose son was later overthrown. The study uses historical records, including sealed contracts like Abi-hunni’s, to trace the impact of these diplomatic ties on Near Eastern kingdoms.

Podany, A. H. (2022). Gift Recipients and Royal In-Laws. Weavers, Scribes, and Kings, 369–392. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190059040.003.0015