Hapkis is an ancient vassal kingdom created to contain the unruly Kashka (Kaska, Kaška, Kaskians) of the Pontic Mountains. The range runs along the south coast of the Black Sea. The Kaska occupy most of the northeast, with Pala and Tumanna to the west.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
See also:
Kashka raid early settlements of the Hittite Kings, especially rich trade cities like Alaca Hoyuk. Some they burn to the ground, restore them and have them burned to the ground and retaken by the armies of the next Hittite king. It's a ceaseless power struggle.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
By c. 1320 BCE the Kashkas establish themselves at the city of Pishuru in the northeast Hittite Empire. For the nomadic mountain tribes it's the beginning of an organized state system.
See also:
In the Hittite highlands, the cities Ishupitta and Daistipassa also fall beneath the battle axes of the the Kaska. After some negotiations, the cities ally forces with the Kaska against the Hittite Empire.
Kashka begin to make forays south. They attack and seize control of Hittite territories including Landa to the east of Hattusa, and Marista in the highlands to the southeast.
See also:
Continuing the spread south they cross the Maraššanda River, today known as the Kızılırmak River. It originates in the mountain region of İmranlı and creates a fertile delta at the Black Sea coast.
The river forms a natural border, so crossing it is a bold move by the Kaska. They forge further south to the prosperous trade city of Kanesh (Kültepe) in central Anatolia.
See also:
Along the way, the Kashka hook up with at least three more cities against the Hittite domination. With a growing army they advance toward central Anatolia.
The city of Durmitta to the east of Kanesh also joins with the Kaskians. From there the Kaska launch attacks throughout the region. The Kashka phenomenon explodes through the land of Ippasanama (Ippaššanama, also east of Kanesh) and further east to Suwatara.
See also:
Suwartara is the southernmost conquest of the Kaskians. Only two cities, Istahara and one which can't be read, escape Kashka attacks. Later, Hattusilis reconquers the occupied cities.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Finally the Hittite King Muwatallis II notices an aberrance in the north quickly becoming a threat. For the purpose of containing the Kaska he establishes a vassal kingdom in the north. He gives it to his brother, Hattusilis, to rule as governor or vassal King.
See also:
The Hittites re-conquer and fortify the nearby towns of Anziliya and Tapikka. Then Muwatallis goes back to the trappings of civilization in the new Hittite capital at Tarhuntassa, named for Storm God Tarhunna.
He moved the capital from Hattusa to Tarhuntassa, further south, due to the Kaska threat. After his reign the capital goes back to Hattusa.
See also:
The regions and people of northern Anatolia have fallen under Kaskian dominance. Hattusilis himself calls the kingdom "hollow lands".
The capital is placed at Hakpis. Settlements of the new Kingdom include Ishupitta, Marista, Hissashapa, Katapa, Hanhana, Darahna, Hattena, Durmitta, Pala, Tummanna, Gasiya, Sappa, the Hulanna River, Hakpis and Istahara.
See also:
Ruler of a frontier region, surrounded by rebels, mercenaries and enemies, Hattulisi rises to the challenge. His powers of autonomy give him the freedom to govern and campaign as he chooses and lay down national laws.
He has absolute control over the kingdom's army. With an effective combination of military strength and diplomacy, Hattusili restores order and repopulates many regions over the course of ten years.
See also:
.jpg)
The highlight of his campaigns is military victory over the Kaskian city of Pishuru. In the south, his brother the King is unhelpful, sending only 120 wagons for the fight against the eight hundred armored wagons of Kaska, and no soldiers.
No problem. With the resources he has, Hattusili marches on Pishuru and takes the city by force. He inspires courage, faith and loyalty. Once Pishuru falls, the re-conquest of the ancient Hittite cities meets little resistance.
See also:
Hattusilis erects a stele in Wistawanda. Shortly afterwards Hattusilis restores Hakpis, which has endured recent harassment from the Kashka.
Nerik, now part of the Hakpis Kingdom, revered as the site of the ancient Purilli Festival, is re-captured by the Hittites. Hattusilis takes the city by storm and defeats the Kaska. He thus returns the worship of the Storm God to Nerik,
See also:
Several years after Hittite king Mursilis III assumes the throne, he tries to take Nerik, Hakpis and Tumanna regions from his uncle Hattusilis into his own holdings. Hattusilis rebels, overthrows Mursilis III and becomes King of Hittites c. 1275 BCE.
See also: