View source for Niqmepa

{{for|the king of [[Alalakh]]|Niqmepa, King of Alalakh}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name           = Niqmepa
| title          = King of [[Ugarit]]
|image=Text of Law in Akkadian by King Niqmepa with dynastic seal Ras Shamra Louvre Museum.jpg
|caption=Text of Law in Akkadian by King Niqmepa with dynastic seal. [[Ras Shamra]]. Louvre Museum.
|succession= King of [[Ugarit]]
| reign          = 1320 BC – 1270 BC
| predecessor    = [[Arhalba]] (brother)
| successor      = [[Ammittamru II]]
|spouse=[[Ahatmilku]]
|issue= [[Ammittamru II]]<br>(+2 rival brothers)
|death_date     = {{circa|1270 BC}}
|death_place    = [[Ugarit]]
|father = Niqmepa
|mother =
|}}
'''Niqmepa''' (died {{circa}} 1270 BC) was the fifth-from-last King of [[Ugarit]], a city-state in northwestern [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Sweeney|first=Emmet John|title=Empire of Thebes, or, Ages in Chaos Revisited|publisher=Algora Publishing|year=2007|page=128|isbn=0-87586-480-5}}</ref>
==Reign ==
===Accession===
He was the son of [[Niqmaddu II]], and the brother and successor of [[Arhalba]].<ref name="Kuh">{{cite book|last=Kuhrt|first=Amélie|title=The Ancient Near East, c. 3000-330 BC|publisher=Routledge|year=1995|page=309|isbn=0-415-16763-9|url=https://archive.org/details/ancientneareastc00akuh|url-access=registration}}</ref>
===Vassal Treaty===
Niqmepa was installed by the Hittite king [[Mursili II]] (c. 1321-1300 BC) after forcing the former king, his brother [[Arhalba]] to abdicate the throne in favour of him,<ref name="Kuh"/><ref name="Watson">{{cite book|title=Handbook of Ugaritic Studies|last=Watson|first=Wilfred|date=1999|isbn=9789004109889|page=637}}</ref> and was forced to sign a new treaty declaring explicitly that [[Ugarit]] was a vassal state of the Hittites.<ref name="Kuh"/> The treaty reveals that Niqmepa had a [[harem]], and states that his woman and children will be held responsible if he fails to honor his obligations.<ref name="brill">{{cite book|last= Marsman|first= Hennie J.|title= Women in Ugarit and Israel: Their Social and Religious Position in the Context of the Ancient Near East|publisher= BRILL|year= 2003|page= [https://archive.org/details/womeninugaritisr00henn/page/660 660]|isbn= 90-04-11732-6|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/womeninugaritisr00henn/page/660}}</ref>
At the same time Ugarit lost control of the territory of ''[[Siyannu|Shiyannu]]'' to the east, which halved the area controlled by Niqmepa. The secession was confirmed by Mursili II and ''Shiyannu'' was placed under the direct control of [[Carchemish]], which was ruled by descendants of Hittite kings as "viceroys". However, because of the loss of ''Shiyannu'', and by request from Niqmepa, the tribute of Ugarit was reduced by a third. During Niqmepa's reign Ugarit became entirely encircled by areas under Hittite control.<ref name="Kuh"/>
===Other events===
Niqmepa married princess [[Ahatmilku]], of the [[Amurru kingdom]] to the south.<ref name="brill"/>
He continued to reign as a vassal of [[Muwatalli II]], [[Muršili III|Mursili III]] and [[Ḫattušili III|Hattusili III]].
== Death ==
After a long reign of about 50 years as the vassal of four successive Hittite kings, Niqmepa was succeeded by his son, [[Ammittamru II]].<ref name="Kuh"/>
==References==
{{Portal|Asia}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Ugaritic kings]]
[[Category:1270s BC deaths]]
[[Category:14th-century BC monarchs]]
[[Category:13th-century BC monarchs]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]