Gal mesedi

Hittite Kingdom From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The gal mesedi was a Hittite military and administrative title literally meaning "chief of the royal bodyguards".[1] He was in charge of the Mesedi, the personal bodyguard of the Hittite king.[2] It is considered to be one of the most important and prestigious posts of the Hittite Kingdom.[3][2]

History

The gal mesedi was a commander responsible for the safety of the king himself. On most cases he was a member of the royal family and sometimes the brother of the king, whom he sometimes succeeded as in the case of Hattusili III, who before becoming a king was the gal mesedi of his brother, King Muwatalli II.[4] A gal mesedi could also at times command independent military units that weren't under the king's jurisdiction.

See also

Sources

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI