Political alliances and military diplomacy during the Hittite imperial period

This study aims to reveal the structure, functioning and effects of Hittite diplomacy, one of the most advanced foreign policy practices of the ancient world, by deeply examining the Hittite diplomacy system from a historical and theoretical perspective. The Hittites, established in Anatolia in the 2nd millennium BC, managed their relations with other major civilizations of the period not only with their military power but also with their advanced diplomacy techniques and strategic approaches. In this context, the study comprehensively analyzes the practices such as written treaties, ambassador exchanges, strategic marriages and the vassalage system, which are the basic tools of Hittite diplomacy. Within the scope of the research, written sources, archaeological findings and modern historical literature belonging to the Hittites were systematically examined, and the development and effectiveness of diplomatic practices throughout the historical process were evaluated using the content analysis method. In the study, the peaceful role played by Hittite diplomacy in crisis and conflict situations, strategies for ensuring regional stability and the reflections of these practices on later diplomatic approaches were discussed in detail. The results show that the Hittites developed institutionalized systems in the field of diplomacy, both legal and political. The binding structure of written treaties, the effectiveness of the institution of ambassadors and alliances formed through strategic marriages stand out as the basic elements of the Hittite understanding of diplomacy. In addition, vassal relations and policies of ensuring regional balance of power supported the sustainable and multidimensional structure of Hittite diplomacy. This study not only emphasizes the historical importance of Hittite diplomacy, but also sheds light on the origins of diplomatic practices in modern international relations. It has been concluded that the diplomatic practices of the Hittites are guiding in terms of establishing peace, crisis management and international cooperation in today's understanding of diplomacy. Thus, this research reveals that Hittite diplomacy is not a phenomenon specific to the ancient period, but a diplomatic heritage that extends beyond the ages and contains universal values. Keywords: Hittite, Diplomacy, Marriage, Treaty, Alliance