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Mitanni was one of the so-called “Great Powers” of the Near East when Suppiluliuma I came to power, but was severely weakened by internal problems and constant war with the Hittites. The king of Mitanni during most of Suppiluliuma’s reign, Tushratta, saw that his kingdom was in jeopardy so he made an alliance with the Egyptians; but the Egyptians under Tutankhamun (ruled ca. 1345-1335 BC) were more concerned with their own post-Amarna Period internal problems. Sensing a supreme opportunity, Suppiluliuma I led his army south into Mitanni and sacked the capital city of Washshukanni. A Hittite text recorded the event:
“I, the Sun Suppiluliuma, the great king, the king of the Hatti land, the valiant, the favorite of the Storm-god, went to war. Because of king Tusratta’s presumptuousness I crossed the Euphrates and invaded the country of Isuwa. . . I, the Sun Suppiluliuma, the great king, the king of the Hatti land, the valiant, the favorite of the Storm-god, reached the country of Alse and captured the provincial center Kutmar. To Antar-atal of the country of Alse I presented it as a gift. I proceeded to the provincial center Suta and ransacked it. I reached Wassukanni. The inhabitants of the provincial center Suta together with their cattle, sheep (and) horses, together with their possessions and together with their deportees I brought to the Hatti land, Tusratta, the king, had departed, he did not come to meet me in battle.” <ref> Pritchard, James B, ed. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691035032/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691035032&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=64ac33031f999ef079ed9c5124752160 Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament].</i> 3rd ed. (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1992), p. 318</ref> Tushratta was assassinated by his inner circle and his son fled to Hatti to live as a refugee. <ref> Kuhrt, p. 253</ref> Suppiluliuma I had effectively toppled the once mighty Mitanni Kingdom and made it a vassal of the Hittites. With Mitanni eliminated, the Hittites were then able to turn their attention to the abundant resources of the Levant.
====Wars with Egypt====
