Arzawa

Kingdom of Arzawa
𒅈𒍝𒉿
ar-za-wa
1700–1300 BC
Map of the Arzawa and the surrounding kingdoms, c. 1400 BC.
Map of the Arzawa and the surrounding kingdoms, c. 1400 BC.
CapitalApaša
Common languagesLuwian or related languages
GovernmentMonarchy
Kings 
• Late 15th century BC
Kupanta-Kurunta
• Early 14th century BC
Tarḫuntaradu
• 1320s BC
Tarkasnawa
• 1320–1300 BC
Uhha-Ziti
Historical eraBronze Age
• Established
1700 BC
• Disestablished
1300 BC
King Tarkasnawa of Mira, in the Karabel relief, circa 1350 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.