Arzawa

Kingdom of Arzawa 𒅈𒍝𒉿 ar-za-wa
1700–1300 BC
Map of the Arzawa and the surrounding kingdoms, c. 1400 BC.
Capital	Apaša
Common languages	Luwian or related languages
Government	Monarchy
Kings
• Late 15th century BC	Kupanta-Kurunta
• Early 14th century BC	Tarḫuntaradu
• 1320s BC	Tarkasnawa
• 1320–1300 BC	Uhha-Ziti
Historical era	Bronze Age
• Established	1700 BC
• Disestablished	1300 BC

Arzawa was a region and political entity in Western Anatolia during the Late Bronze Age. In Hittite texts, the term is used to refer both to a particular kingdom and to a loose confederation of states. The chief Arzawan state, whose capital was at Apasa, is often referred to as Arzawa Minor or Arzawa Proper, while the other Arzawa lands included Mira, Hapalla, Wilusa, and the Seha River Land.

Arzawa is known from contemporary texts documenting its political and military relationships with Egypt and the Hittite Empire. The kingdom had a tumultuous relationship with the Hittites, sometimes allied with them but other times opposing them, in particular in concert with Mycenaean Greece which corresponds to Ahhiyawa of the Hittite sources. During the Amarna Period, Arzawa had achieved sufficient independence that Egypt opened direct diplomatic relations, addressing the Arzawan king Tarhuntaradu as "great king", a title reserved for peers. However, the kingdom was fully subjugated by Mursili II around 1300 BC.