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What was the purpose of the Edict of Telipinus?
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Anatolia
Abandoned cave dwellings in Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey.
The Edict of Telipinus was established by the Hittite king Telipinus to address the instability of the Old Kingdom in Anatolia. Its primary purposes were to end widespread lawlessness and to formally regulate the royal succession.1
To achieve these goals, the edict established the following measures:
- Constitutional Oversight: It designated the pankus, a general assembly, to serve as a high court for constitutional crimes.1
- Legal Accountability: The edict ensured that even the king was subject to the jurisdiction of the pankus in cases of murder, thereby limiting absolute royal power and promoting the rule of law.1
These stipulations were largely successful, remaining in effect until the end of the New Kingdom.1