Malnigal of BABYLON Tawananna [61648]

  General Notes:

http://fabpedigree.com/s017/f002558.htm



http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/turkey_heads.htm

B.C. ca 1380-45/15 The Tawananna Malnigal of Babylon
Married to king Suppiluliumas. She was also Tawananna under her son Mursilis II but was deposed and succeeded by his wife

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawananna


Tawananna (also spelt Tavannana) is the title for the queen of the Hittites . The Hittites were ruled by a theocratic monarchy , although the King was equal with the Queen when it came to rights of rulership. The Tavannana also had the duty of ruling when the King was away fighting at battle and was the High Priestess while the king was High Priest of the Hittite Empire.

The Hittite queen bore the title Tawanannas, and if she outlived her husband, she retained her position. [1] The main duties of Tawanannas was mainly religious. The examples of Hittite Tawanannas was Puduhepa , wife of Hattusilis III . After the death of Hattusilis, Puduhepa took the responsibility of communicating with Egyptian royal family and rulers of the Hittite vassal states.

This title is from the Hittite civilization 1000-3000 B.C, a society which recognized a governing queen. The title was for when the king was living and its position was reserved by the queen after her spouse died. Because it was reserved, it meant no Tawannanna began the Ceremony of Enthronement to her king, until just after the previous Tawannanna dies. This often resulted in bitter rivalries between newly appointed queens and their stepchildren who would inherit the true power of the kingdom. Such an incident is noted in translated version of cuneiform tablet.

Notes

1. ^ Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture, W.H. Stiebing, p. 200

Malnigal married Shuppiluliumash I of Khatti [61643] [MRIN: 551617714], son of Khattushilish II King of the Hittites [61644] and Unknown. (Shuppiluliumash I of Khatti [61643] was born about 1405 B.C. and died about 1346 B.C..)