Aplahanda

Aplahanda (died 1765 BC) was a king of Carchemish proposed to have reigned between 1786 and 1765 BC, during the early Middle Bronze IIA (c. 1820-1750 BC).

Family

His daughter called Matrunna is also known; she had a non-Semitic, possibly Hurrian name. His other son was Yahdul-Lim.

Reign Aplahanda had a long reign spanning several decades.

Relations with Anatolian city-states In Anatolia, Aplahanda conducted trade throught the Assyrian Trade Network with Kanesh (Level Ib). At Acemhöyük (Anatolia), bullae the Sarıkaya Palace yielded 15 impressions of two seals belonging to Aplahanda of Carchemish. the Death of Shamshi-Adad I occurred in Year 18 of Hammurabi of Babylon. This significantly changed the power dynamics in the region.

Relations with Yasmah-Adad of Mari The Fall of Mari saw Shamshi-Adad I install his son Yasmah-Adad on the throne of Mari. Aplahanda corresponded with Yasmah-Adad.

Mari Archive (ARM V (Archives Royales de Mari, Volume 5): ARM V, 1: A report from Apla-handa informing Yasmah-Adad about the movements of Sumu-Epuh (the King of Yamhad). This letter highlights the tension between the Assyrian-Carchemish alliance and the hostile Aleppo dynasty. ARM V, 17: Concerns the movement of messengers. Apla-handa warns Yasmah-Adad that messengers from a foreign power (likely from the west or Anatolia) are heading toward Mari and should be monitored. ARM V, 20: Apla-handa discusses a dispute over territory or borders and suggests a diplomatic way to resolve it without escalating to a full-blown conflict that would require Shamshi-Adad’s intervention. ARM V, 5: Apla-handa confirms the dispatch of wine and honey. This letter is famous for its polite but firm tone regarding the quality of the jars used for transport. ARM V, 6: Apla-handa mentions sending garments and specifically "mountain goods" (likely items from the Taurus or Amanus mountains) to Yasmah-Adad as tokens of their "brotherhood." ARM V, 7: Apla-handa writes to Yasmah-Adad regarding a physician (asū). He mentions that he is sending a specialist to Mari and requests that Yasmah-Adad treat him well and eventually send him back. ARM V, 11: Concerns a leatherworker. Apla-handa asks for a specific craftsman to be sent to Carchemish to assist with the production of military or luxury equipment.

Relations with Zimri-Lim of Mari Around 1775 BC, following the death of Shamshi-Adad I, Aplahanda established close relations with Zimri-Lim of Mari, addressing each other's as "brothers" (ahu; equal status, peers). This enabled trade to flourish from Carchemish downstream the Euphrates to Mari.

Death He is known to have died based on a letter of Ishtaran-Nasir a high official from Tell Leilan. Aplahanda was succeeded by his son, Yatar-Ami, who ruled for only two years.

Dendrochronology indicate that Aplahanda died around REL 208 (c. 1765 BC). !! Event

Attestations He was first known from a cylinder seal translated by Rene Dussaud in 1929. The seal was found at the base of the mound of Ugarit before excavations began.

At least 6 seals naming Aplahanda have been published. They are skilfully produced, and show mostly Babylonian influence, although some Syrian and Egyptian motifs are also present.