Ramses, Volume III by Christian Jacq

Author:Christian Jacq [JACQ, CHRISTIAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: FIC014000
ISBN: 9780446930246
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 1999-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-ONE

Uri-Teshoop, Hattusili, Puduhepa, along with the high priests of the Storm God and the Sun Goddess, the head of imperial construction, the inspector of markets, and all the empire’s other dignitaries, were gathering to hear the emperor’s speech.

The failure of the campaign to destabilize Egypt’s protectorates had been troubling. Clearly, the blame lay with General Baduk—the late General Baduk—but what did it mean in terms of Muwattali’s foreign policy? The military establishment, roused by Uri-Teshoop, was pressing for a direct and rapid strike against Egypt. The merchants, whose financial power was considerable, were tired of having trade relations disrupted; they favored peace, however tentative. Hattusili had met with the trade delegation and advised the emperor not to dismiss their concerns. The caravans traversing Hatti paid hefty taxes to the government, an important source of revenue for military operations, considering that the average donkey carried more than a hundred pounds of trade goods, over a hundred fifty of textiles. The merchants had transformed towns and villages into thriving trade centers. They established an efficient economic system through the use of inventories, written orders, shipping contracts, discharge of debts, and specific legal regulations. If, for instance, a merchant was accused of murder, he could avoid trial and conviction by paying a sizable fine instead.

Military might and a thriving economy were the two mainstays of the emperor’s power. He needed them both to survive. Since Uri-Teshoop was becoming the military hero of the day, Hattusili positioned himself as the merchants’ special representative, leaving his well-connected wife, Puduhepa, to control the clergy.

Muwattali was too shrewd not to have noticed the intense clandestine rivalry pitting his son against his brother. Granting each of them a limited sphere of influence, he had acknowledged their ambition while keeping the upper hand, but for how long? Soon he would be forced to act.

Hattusili would not object to the conquest of Egypt, except for the fact that it was liable to promote Uri-Teshoop as a war hero and future emperor. He therefore needed to cultivate his relationships with the military establishment, undermining his nephew’s authority. For an emperor’s son, what could be more desirable than a glorious death on the battlefield? Hattusili recognized Muwattali’s skill as a leader and would have been content merely to serve him, had Uri-Teshoop not emerged as a threat to the empire’s stability.

Muwattali did not assume his son would show him respect or gratitude; Hittite culture placed no great emphasis on family ties. The legal code deemed incest an acceptable practice as long as it caused no harm to the parties involved. The penalties for rape were light and were waived if the least presumption of consent was found to exist. Thus, for a son to assassinate his father in a takeover attempt would hardly be considered an outrage.

Putting Uri-Teshoop in command of the army had been a master stroke; it would take the young man’s mind off eliminating his father, at least for the time being. Sooner or later, however, the danger would resurface.

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