Kurunta

Kurunta was a younger brother or a son of the Hittite king Muwatalli II (ca. 1290-1272 BC) and thus cousin or uncle of the Great King Tudhalija IV (ca. 1240-1215 BC).

Claim to the throne

Muwatallis II 's eldest son Mursili III. (ca. 1272-1265 BC), from whose uncle Hattusili III. (ca. 1265-1240 BC) overturned. As a result, could claim to the Hittite throne sign up Kurunta.

Ruler of Tarhuntassa

New finds from Hattusa provided new information about Kurunta. Firstly, there is a bronze plaque with the treaty between Tudhalija IV and Kurunta, the Kurunta dominion over wore over the region Tarhuntassa in the south of Asia Minor and its territory stipulated exactly. Apparently Tudhalija wanted to appease his rival in this way.

Great King

Kurunta apparently was thus not satisfied. Some time later he was briefly Great King in Hattusa, as some king seal newly found in Hattusa show. The rule nickname Kuruntas was apparently violently. Whether this is still during the reign of Tudhalija IV or during the apparent short reign of his elder son Arnuwanda III. happened is not clear.

Suppiuliuma and Tarhuntassa

At the Southern Citadel Hattuschas recently an inscription was found in hieroglyphic Luwian, the attack Suppiluliumas II ( younger son Tudhalija IV, ca 1215/10-1190 BC? ) Describes on Tarhuntassa. Perhaps it was in response to Kuruntas coup a few years earlier. It is of deportations of the population Tarhuntaššas the speech, but it is debatable whether Suppiluliuma II Tarhuntassa could quite conquer. Whether Kurunta at the time this action was still alive, is unknown.