kingdom of Hatra and the relations with Persia

 

 

 

antiques of Arabic kingdom of Hatra

The Kingdom of Hatra or the Kingdom of Arabaya or “Ḥaṭrāʾ” as recorded in ancient Aramaic writings is one of the most prominent archaeological cities in Iraq and the oldest Arab kingdoms in Iraq on the Euphrates Peninsula, specifically in the plain northwest of Mesopotamia, which is currently western Iraq and eastern Syria. It was ruled by only 4 kings. It is the first Iraqi archaeological site to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

The city of Hatra is almost circular, with a diameter of about two kilometers, surrounded by a deep, well-sided moat, and surrounded by a wall supported by 163 towers. This wall consists of two walls, each 3 m and 2.5 m wide, with a distance of 12 m between them at the northern gate.

A dirt road was also found surrounding the city from all sides, half a kilometer outside the wall. It is not known whether it was an external wall or a ring through which the enemy tightened its siege of the city, and a number of castles were located on its outskirts. The city was distinguished by its location of commercial and military importance, in addition to its abundance of fresh water and fertile lands.

The city's emblem is the falcon, which represents the strength and prestige of the city. The urban residents were pagans who worshiped their gods, including Al-Lat and Shamash, “the sun.” Then they converted to Christianity, and their state became a religious state governed democratically, where everyone has the right to express their opinion.

 

 

Location

The city of Hatra is located in the heart of the northern  desert of island  in Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq. It is located in the middle of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on the northwestern outskirts of Iraq, and on  al-Tharthar valley, which passes to its east by about 3 to 4 kilometers.

The ruins and remains of the city of Hatra are about 110 km southwest of Mosul, and about 50-60 km northwest of Shirqat (Assyria).

The influence of the Kingdom of Hatra extended to the Tigris River from the east and the Euphrates from the west, and from the Sinjar Mountains in the north to the outskirts of Ctesiphon (Mada'in)  in the south, but in the era of its prosperity, its influence extended northward beyond Sinjar, until it reached Al-Khabur and Nusaybin in the far north of Iraq.

Population

The Kingdom of Hatra was inhabited by Arab tribes, and a small number of Aramaeans lived among them. It was only a village that arose during the Neo-Assyrian era (in 612 BC). It took advantage of the absence of the power of the Assyrian Empire to expand and become a center for attracting individuals from the Bedouins, camel herders, and wanderers throughout the northern desert.

Hatra religion

The people of Hatra worshiped the sun under different names. In the Peninsula and in the Kaaba of the Hijaz, it was known as Hubal and Dhu Shura in Aramaic, and Shamash (Sun)  in Hatra. The Hadar language is the Aramaic basis from which the Arabic language emerged.

The history of Hatra indicates that it appeared in the first century AD following the demise of ancient states such as Assyria and Babylonia and the growing role of the Aramaic and Babylonian tribes.

As for its end, it ended for a religious and military reason, as it disappeared as a military site, and since Hatra embraced the ancient Iraqi religion (the worship of the planets), the emergence of Christianity, its spread, and its infiltration among the Aramaic and Arab tribes as far as the Arabian Peninsula led to the loss of Hatra from its previous religious role, and its Kaaba and statues were not left any importance.

The most important turning point that led to the emergence and prominence of Hatra  areas was; The outbreak of wars between the Roman Empire and the Parthian Persian Empire, in the period from 69 BC until 36 BC, when it began to gain importance for both empires, given its border location between them, so it became the first line of defense in the confrontation.

The relationship between the Hatra and  Persia

The city of Hatra withstood the attacks of both the Romans and the Persians for a long time, thanks to its fortification and the desperate defense of its residents.

Hatra remained the firm ally of the Parthians in their epic struggle with Rome; among its rulers were three with the typically Arsacid name of Sanatrūk, while the “king of the Arabs” (Aramaic, malkā ḏī ʿAraḇ) in the 1st century A.D. had the Parthian name of Vologases. Much more than a caravan city, Hatra had an important shrine for sun worship that attracted rich votive offerings. Hatra’s fortunes declined with those of its Arsacid patrons.

The first aim of Ardašīr’s attack was al-Baḥrayn, most likely to gain control over control the western shores of the Gulf themselves, regarding of the victorious campaign Ardašīr killed the local ruler Sanaṭrūq. 

“Then he turned round and began to march, and he went to ʿUmān and Baḥrayn and its capital Yamāma, and Sanatruq the king of Baḥrayn went against him. He made war against  him and Ardašīr killed him, and he commanded that his city to be destroyed” .

It is apparent that  settling of the new cities, seems more important than the records of the military actions.

 

 

he built eight cities in al Baḥrayn.

This ambition was not limited to this, but in long-perspective Ardašīr planned capturing of entire Arabia, and subsequently of entire maritime in Persian Gulf.

So intensive actions taken by Ardašīr on the banks of the Persian Gulf.

. Thus,  great trade in Persian Gulf was a starting point for a long-range maritime trade, it is possible to believe that king’s intention was to return the monopoly in Far East trade.

About the conflict with the coalition of Haftwād points out that Ardašīr intended to subdue the water route not only for economic but also for military reasons.

But this monopoly which was broken after capturing the Nabatean kingdom by Rome.

 

 

Before the attack

During the reign of Sanaṭrūq II (AD 200-240/241), the last king of Ḥaṭrā, strong  towers and massive  walls were built. At the same time the trade routes with Syria  Ardašīr seemed to  gain control of fortresses in Roman Mesopotamia  for the second time  at the same time active diplomatic attempts of Ḥaṭrā can be seen. 

Roman troops were stationed there. But the regular presence of Roman forces in Hatra in the years 235-238 is uncertain.

The fall of Hatra

 In the year 241, Shapur I, or Shapur of the Shoulders, prepared to attack Hatra, which his father had been unable to occupy. The king of Hatra at that time had liberated the region of Sawad and Shahrazur, which were suffering under the burden of the Sassanian occupation, relying on his own capabilities without help or support from any other country in order to demonstrate to the Sassanians that the powerful cities cannot be intimidated by any military force on the ground.

At the beginning of his reign, Sabur mobilized his army and marched towards Hatra. When the King of Hatra (Santruq) learned of his advance, he fortified himself inside Hatra, so Sabur imposed a siege in the year 241 AD, and was able to penetrate the wall of Hatra through a betrayal planned from within the city walls.

Treason

Despite the lengthy Persian siege of the Kingdom of Hatra, which was met with the strength of its fortifications, everything changed when Al-Nadira, the daughter of the King of Hatra, left her home for a need.

She was, as the novels say, the most beautiful women of her time, so Shapur saw her and she saw him and they fell in love with just a glance.

Then she sent to him saying: “What will you do to me if I direct you to what will destroy this city?” He said: “I make you the queen,” and she directed him to the location of a tunnel from which one could enter and pass the fort.

Thus, the Persians were able to enter the city, Shapur killed the king, Hatra was destroyed, its people were prohibited from carrying weapons, and it became part of the possessions of the Persian Empire.