About Niqmaddu II
Lived 1350 BC – 1315 BC (aged 34–35). Niqmaddu II was a monarch and writer.
Niqmaddu II was the second ruler and king of Ugarit, an ancient Syrian city-state in northwestern Syria (c. 1350–1315 BC) and succeeding his father, Ammittamru I. He was a vassal ruler of Suppiluliuma I of Hatti.
Early life Niqmaddu II ( Níqmâdâd, "vengeance of Hadad" ) took his name from the earlier Amorite ruler Niqmaddu, meaning "Addu has vindicated" to strengthen the supposed Amorite origins of his Ugaritic dynasty.
His wife may have been Pisidqi known from a legal text.
Reign Though the exact date of his accession to the throne of Ugarit is unknown, he might be a contemporary of both Akhenaten and Tutankhamun the Hittite ruler Šuppiluliuma I, and was a vassal of the latter. He is mentioned in the Baal cycle as King nqmd.
He is identified in Syrian on an alabaster vase along with a woman in Egyptian court dress, however, the name of the woman in the vase, if ever indicated, is not preserved. Letter of Šuppiluliuma I to Niqmaddu II of Ugarit CTH 46 Treaty of Šuppiluliuma I with Niqmaddu II of Ugarit CTH 47 Decree of Šuppiluliuma I setting the tribute of Ugarit (.I Akkadian.II Hittite) CTH 48 Inventory of the tribute of Ugarit to Šuppiluliuma I
Treaty At Ugarit, the treaty is known from RS 17.0339,a + RS 17.0340 + RS 17.0366.
The introduction reveals a rebellion against the great king, where Niqmaddu II remained faithful. Thus (says) the Sun, Šuppiluliuma, Great King, king of Hatti, warrior. When Itur-Addu, king of Mukiš, and Addu-nirari, king of Nuhašši, and Agi-Tešub, king of Niya, turned hostile towards the Sun, the Great King, their lord, and they mustered their troops and captured cities from Ugarit, and they oppressed Ugarit and carried off as captives the subjects of Niqmaddu, king of Ugarit, and devastated Ugarit.
Niqmaddu II asked Suppiluliuma I for aid. Niqmaddu, king of Ugarit, came to Šuppiluliuma, the great king, saying: "May the Sun, the Great King, my Lord, save me from the hand of the enemy," saying "I myself am the servant of the Sun, the Great King, my lord," saying "I am hostile towards the enemy of my lord, and I am peaceful towards the friend of my lord," saying "The kings are oppressing me!"
Received captives. The Great King heard the speech of Niqmaddu, and so the Great King Šuppiluliuma sent the sons of the king and the noblemen with troops and chariots to Ugarit, and they attacked the troops of the enemy [in] the midst of Ugarit. [And] they gave [to] Niqmaddu [all of] their captives whom they took (from the enemy).
Showed great hospitality. Niqmaddu, king of Ugarit, greatly honored the sons of the king and the noblemen of Hatti. He gave them much silver, gold, and copper. Niqmaddu arrived in Alalah before the Sun, the Great King, his lord and a gift [...] to the Sun, the Great King, his lord.
This section emphasizes loyalty. He took [...] Niqmaddu did [not] involve himself with words of hostility against the king [his lord, and] the Great King [Šuppiluliuma recognized(?)] the loyalty [of Niqmaddu, king(?)] of Ugarit [...] he did not [... any ... scourings] and shavings [...]
In the final portion is several toponyms. [...] ancient time [...] Ugarit [...] Ugarit [...] all his land [...] Ugarit [... the sons(?)] of his sons, [...] together with the mountains of Šimeru [...] Bīt-hilu [...] Zimmeru, [...] together with Mount Hešmaraši, [..., Ṣuharu], Yarqanu, [...] Kanzata, Magdala, [together with (its)] mountains, the Crossroads [of Pithana] together with Mount Kiburu, [together with] Mount [Ašamtu, together with Mount] Matraniya, ʾUlullu, [Huluru, Halda], Murar, [Naša, Ulmuwa, Yathaba], Yakunaʿamu, [ʿEn-Zuriya, Nidabu], Kamkatiya, [Harbuǵuli, Šanizula], Baqʿatu, together with [its mountain, Halanu, Napṯatu], Ṯamra, Pugulʾu, [...]ʾa, Šeta, Yaʿaniya, Mount ʾAyalu, together with Mount Hadamgu, Kidkidiya, Paništayu, Naghatu, Halbu-Nana, Šalma, Gulbata, Zamirtu, Śuladu, Maraʾil, Himullu.
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Important facts
People in Niqmaddu II's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Niqmaddu II's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Niqmaddu II?
Ugartic king
When was Niqmaddu II born?
Niqmaddu II was born in 1350 BC.
When did Niqmaddu II die?
Niqmaddu II died in 1315 BC.
What was Niqmaddu II's occupation?
Niqmaddu II was a monarch and writer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Niqmaddu II. https://biography.guide/niqmaddu-ii/
MLA: "Niqmaddu II." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/niqmaddu-ii/.
Chicago: "Niqmaddu II." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/niqmaddu-ii/.
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