Background
He was the eldest surviving son of Muwatalli World War II He was a grandson of Mursili World War II
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Mursili Mursili III
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He was a cousin of Tudhaliya IV and Queen Maathorneferure. The noted Hittologist Trevor Bryce credits this king with a reign of only 5 years and dates him at 1272 British Columbia – 1267 British Columbia. Mursili III must, hence, be dated from ca. 1272–1265 British Columbia (short chronology).
The reigns of his successors should also be downdated by 2 years in Trevor Bryce"s chronological table for the Hittite kings.
(Hattusili thus ruled Hatti from 1265-1235 Bachelor of Civil Engineering, rather than 1267-1237 Bachelor of Civil Engineering and so forth)
During his reign, Mursili III reverted the capital from Tarhuntassa (as it had been under Muwatalli) back to Hattusa. (KBo 2115 i 11-12) However, the Assyrians captured Hanigalbat, which severely weakened his legitimacy to rule over the Hittite Empire.
Hakpissa served as the centre of Hattusili"s power while Nerik was under Hattusilis"s sway from the latter"s position as high priest there. Hattusili then states in a well-known text:
Consequently, Mursili III"s reign was 7 years.
Hattusili"s forces even included elements of the Kaska peoples who were sworn enemies of the Hittites.
This letter precipitated a crisis in relations between Egypt and Hatti when Ramesses denied any knowledge of Mursili"s whereabouts in his country and the two empires came dangerously close to war. However, both kings eventually decided to resolve the issue by making peace in Year 21 of Ramesses World War II An extradition clause was also included in the treaty. Mursili III soon thereafter disappears from history after his sojourn in Egypt.
Mursili III seemingly had a son.
A certain Hartapu calls himself a great king and son of the great king Mursili, who normally is identified with Mursili III. Hartapu likely has ruled Tarhuntassa in the 2nd half of the 13th century British Columbia.
