Labarna I


Labarna I was the traditional first king of the Hittites, c. early 16th century BC. He was the traditional founder of the Hittite Old Kingdom. His wife was Tawannanna.
The existence of Labarna I is questioned by some modern scholars. Labarna was also a title of early Hittite rulers, such as Hattusili I. Given the relatively few contemporaneous references to Labarna I personally, some scholars have suggested that pioneering Hittitologists may have erred in assuming that Labarna was the personal name of a king. According to this theory, the first Labarna was Hattusili I, who is normally regarded as the second Labarna..The term labryn/labrys for Aigyftivie/Minoan warrior ruler symbols in Myceannean and archaic greek texts and myths as well as the term labyrindhos for Minoan ruler palaces casts doubds for the term Labarna being a kings name,it seems more of luwian origin south anatolia coastland rulers tittle.And was probably pronounced Labruna or Laburun.
Tabarna, a variant of Labarna, is mentioned often in Hattian, Hittite, Hurrian and Akkadian texts from the Hittite archives.

Biography

Labarna was not the first in line to the throne. PU-Sarruma designated Labarna as his successor after his own sons revolted against him. Upon PU-Sarruma's death, Labarna and Papahdilmah, one of PU-Sarruma's sons, contended for the throne, with Labarna emerging victorious.
What little is known about him is culled mainly from the Telepinu Proclamation, which states that he overwhelmed his enemies and "made them borders of the sea", a statement which may refer to conquests as far as the Mediterranean coast in the south, and the Black Sea in the north.
Labarna installed his sons as governors in several cities including Tuwanuwa, Hupisna, Landa, and Lusna. Through his conquests, he was responsible for laying the groundwork for the Hittite empire that was to come.