Battles of Alashiya

The Battles of Alashiya were a series of two naval engagements and one joint land and naval operation between the Hittite Navy and the Hittite Army of the Hittite Empire and the Alashiyan Navy and Alashiyan Army of the Kingdom of Alashiya,[1] (Cyprus) that took place between 1275 and 1205 BC.[2]

Battles of Alashiya
Part of the Hittite Wars
Date 1275–1205 BC Location off the Coast of Alashiya, Cyprus Result Decisive Hittite victory
Belligerents
Hittite Empire	Kingdom of Alashiya
Commanders and leaders
Hittite Kings	?
Strength
unknown warships	unknown warships
Casualties and losses
unknown personnel unknown ships lost	unknown personnel unknown ships lost

History

The Hittite Empire had laid claim to the Kingdom of Alashiya located in modern-day Cyprus since late 15th century BC.[3] In 1370 the Hittites were attacked by the forces of Lukka and Kizzuwatna later known in ancient history as the states of Lycia and Cilicia. This attack provoked the Hittites into sending an invasion force against Alashiya on three occasions between 1275 and 1205 BC.[4] The Hittite Navy engaged the Alashiyan Fleet off the coast of Cyprus whilst the Hittite Army engaged Alashiyan land forces on the beach under the command of Great King Suppiluliuma II.[5] The Battles of Alashiya were one of the earliest series of sea battles in recorded history resulting in an Hittite victory.[6]

Footnotes

1. Knapp, A. Bernard. (1985). "J Article Alashiya, Caphtor/Keftiu, and Eastern Mediterranean Trade: Recent Studies in Cypriote Archaeology and History". Journal of Field Archaeology. 12 (2): 231–250.
2. Connolly, Peter; Gillingham, John; Lazenby, John (2016). The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 9. ISBN 9781135936747.
3. Hill, George (2010). A History of Cyprus. Cambridge, England.: Cambridge University Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN 9781108020626.
4. Middleton, Guy D. (2017). "7:The Hittites and the Eastern Mediterranean". Understanding Collapse Ancient History and Modern Myths. Cambridge, England.: Cambridge University Press. pp. 155–181. ISBN 9781316584941.
5. Middleton. pp.155–181.
6. Connolly, Peter; Gillingham, John; Lazenby, John (2016). The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 9. ISBN 9781135936747.

Bibliography

• Connolly, Peter; Gillingham, John; Lazenby, John (2016). The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare. Cambridge, England: Routledge. ISBN 9781135936747.
• Hill, George (2010). A History of Cyprus. Cambridge, England.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108020626.
• Middleton, Guy D. (2017). "7:The Hittites and the Eastern Mediterranean". Understanding Collapse Ancient History and Modern Myths. Cambridge, England.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781316584941.
• Knapp, A. Bernard. (1985). "J Article Alashiya, Caphtor/Keftiu, and Eastern Mediterranean Trade: Recent Studies in Cypriote Archaeology and History". Journal of Field Archaeology. 12 (2).