Open AccessThe “Protocols” for the Hittite “Royal Guard” during the Old Kingdom: Observations on Elite Military Units and their Possible Warfare Applications
Author(s) -
Eduardo Ferreira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
athens journal of mediterranean studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2407-9480
DOI - 10.30958/ajms.7-3-2
Subject(s) - hittite language , guard (computer science) , elite , battle , infantry , military tactics , law , offensive , operations research , history , ancient history , computer security , political science , engineering , computer science , politics , programming language
In this article, we intend to analyse the importance and modus operandi of a military unit (generally known as “Royal Guard”) whose function was, among other things, the protection of the Hattuša-based Hittite kings. For this essay, we will be mainly using two Hittite textual sources known as “instructions” or “protocols”. We aim to find a connection between these guards and their function regarding the protection of the royal palace as well as their military enlistment in that elite unit. The period to be covered in this analysis comes directly from the choice of sources: the Hittite Old Kingdom, confined between the chronological beacons of the 17th, 16th and 15th centuries BC. With this analysis, we intend to provide some relevant data that may contribute to a better understanding of these elite military units, particularly in regards to their probable warfare functions. Were they used in battle? How were they armed? What was their tactical importance in combat? How was the recruitment done? How were the units formed? These will be some questions that we will try to answer throughout this article. Keywords: guard, palace, command, warfare, infantry