Tudhaliyas IV

Hittite king

Also known as: Tudkhaliash IV

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July 14, 2026

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Tudhaliyas IV was a Hittite king who reigned around the 13th century BCE. He was the son of Hattusilis III and Puduhepa. Tudhaliyas IV continued his father's reforms, particularly in the structure and institutions of the Hittite state religion, with significant influence from his mother, Puduhepa. It is likely that during their joint reign, the rock reliefs depicting a Hurrian pantheon were created at Yazılıkaya, near Boğazköy.12

Tudhaliyas IV attempted to limit the increasing power of Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria, which resulted in a rebellion in Syria. A treaty between Tudhaliyas IV and his cousin Kurunta of Tarhuntassa has been discovered, though Kurunta may have later rebelled. Little is known about his successors, Arnuwandas III and Suppiluliumas II, who reigned during the final period of the Hittite Empire, which was ultimately destroyed by the Phrygian invasion of Asia Minor and a widespread movement of peoples across the Middle East.2

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Ahhiyawā
…empire during the reign of Tudhaliyas IV (c. 1250–20 bce). With the fall of the Hittite empire, lack of textual evidence has left unknown the fate of the Ahhiyawāns after the 13th century bce.
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…empire during the reign of Tudhaliyas IV (c. 1250–20 bce). With the fall of the Hittite empire, lack of textual evidence has left unknown the fate of the Ahhiyawāns after the 13th century bce.
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Yazılıkaya
…sanctuary was completed by King Tudhaliyas IV during the 13th century bc, the last period of the Hittite empire, when Hurrian religious and cultural influence had become predominant. The shrine, therefore, canonized the official Hurrianized cult of the Hittite capital city.
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…sanctuary was completed by King Tudhaliyas IV during the 13th century bc, the last period of the Hittite empire, when Hurrian religious and cultural influence had become predominant. The shrine, therefore, canonized the official Hurrianized cult of the Hittite capital city.
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Anatolia
The Hittite empire to c. 1180 bce
…death of Hattusilis, his son Tudhaliyas IV (c. 1240–10 bce) extended his father’s reforms to the structure and institutions of the Hittite state religion. In this he was much influenced by his mother, Puduhepa, who became coregent with Tudhaliyas. It was probably during their reign that the rock reliefs depicting…
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…death of Hattusilis, his son Tudhaliyas IV (c. 1240–10 bce) extended his father’s reforms to the structure and institutions of the Hittite state religion. In this he was much influenced by his mother, Puduhepa, who became coregent with Tudhaliyas. It was probably during their reign that the rock reliefs depicting…
Read More