Editing Vassal state (section)

===Ancient Egypt===
{{main|Ancient Egypt}}
The reign of [[Thutmose III]] (1479 BC – 1425 BC) laid the foundations for the systems that functioned during the Amarna period of [[Egypt]].<ref name="Jana 2015">{{cite book |last1=Mynárová |first1=Jana |title=Policies of Exchange Political Systems and Modes of Interaction in the Aegean and the Near East in the 2nd Millenium B.C.E: Proceedings of the International Symposium at the University of Freiburg Institute for Archaeological Studies, 30th May – 2nd June 2012 |date=2015 |publisher=Austrian Academy of Sciences Press |pages=158–161 |chapter=Egypt among the Great Powers and its Relations to the Neighbouring Vassal Kingdoms in the Southern Levant according to the Written Evidence: Thutmose III and Amarna.}}</ref> Vassal states in the [[Levant]] became fully integrated in Egypt's economy with the construction of harbours – allowing for greater communication and collection of tax between Egypt and its vassal states during this period.<ref name="Jana 2015" />

Much of what is known about Egypt's vassal states from the reigns of [[Amenhotep III]] and [[Tutankhamun]] (1390 BC – 1323 BC) stems from the Amarna letters<ref name="Elayi 2018">{{cite book |last1=Elayi |first1=Josette |title=The History of Phoenicia |date=2018 |publisher=Lockwood Press |pages=66–82 |chapter=The Small Vassal States of the Near East: (1500–1200)}}</ref> – a collection of 350 cuneiform tablets.<ref name="Morris 2006">{{cite journal |last1=Morris |first1=Ellen |title=Bowing and Scraping in the Ancient Near East: An Investigation into Obsequiousness in the Amarna Letters |journal=Journal of Near Eastern Studies |date=2006 |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=179–188|doi=10.1086/508575 |s2cid=53452075 }}</ref> The different ways vassal rulers communicated with the [[Pharaoh]] via grovelling and obsequiousness is a key method of extrapolating relationships between Egypt and vassal states.<ref name="Morris 2006" />

Egypt's key vassal states were located on the northern frontier, and included states such as [[Nuhašše]], [[Qatna]], and [[Ugarit]]. These were located on the fringes of the territory claimed by Egypt and were a potential threat from acting with the Hittites in [[Anatolia]], or the [[Mitanni]] in [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]].<ref name="Morris 2006" /> Due to these vassal states’ distance from the [[Nile]], and their value as a buffer zone from rival kingdoms, these states appeared to have a more high-status relationship with the Pharaoh and Egypt.<ref name="Morris 2006" /> These states could also solicit the Pharaoh for various requests. The fulfilment of these asks by Egypt may have served the purpose of ensuring the loyalty of these distant vassal states.<ref name="Morris 2006" /> However, these vassal states were claimed by the Hittite Empire following the death of [[Akhenaten]] (1353 BC – 1336 BC) and were never reclaimed.<ref name="Morris 2006" /><ref name="Elayi 2018" />

Under [[Ramesses II]] (1279 BC – 1213 BC), Egypt engaged in several military campaigns against the Hittites, eventually capturing the kingdoms of [[Kadesh (Syria)|Kadesh]] and [[Amurru kingdom|Amurru]] by taking advantage of growing problems in the Hittite Empire.<ref name="Elayi 2018" /> In 1258 BC, Ramesses and the Hittite King [[Ḫattušili III]] signed a peace treaty that created a border from north of [[Byblos]] to [[Damascus]] between the two empires.<ref name="Elayi 2018" />

====Byblos====
The Kingdom of Byblos was significant in linking the worlds of Egypt, the Near East and the Aegean to one another.<ref name = "Marwan 2019">{{cite book |last1=Kilani |first1=Marwan |title=Byblos in the Late Bronze Age: Interactions between the Levantine and Egyptian Worlds |date=2019 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9789004416604}}</ref> It is first attested during the reign of Thutmose III. Through Byblos, the Egyptians had access to products from [[Lebanon]] and Syria, while also using the kingdom as a base for military activity.<ref name="Marwan 2019"/> Byblos held religious importance to Egypt, as the local goddess appeared in the form of [[Hathor]], and was associated with [[Isis]].<ref name="Marwan 2019"/> Byblos was also valuable for Egypt as a trade partner, as it allowed the latter to interact with the regional trade connections between Byblos and other small cities.<ref name="Marwan 2019"/> Byblos seemed to have a large amount of influence itself. Rib-Hadda's letters indicate that Byblos had control over its own territory, until it was taken in conflict with Amurru.<ref name="Marwan 2019"/>

Correspondence with the Kingdom of Byblos is well documented, as the longest interaction between Egypt and a vassal state and spanned a period of 12 years.<ref name="Elayi 2018" /> The subject king in these letters – [[Rib-Hadda]] – is unique among vassal rulers as his letters are more verbose than other small rulers in the Near East. Despite his loyalty to the Pharaoh, Rib-Hadda never received any meaningful reply from Egypt during times of need and was eventually exiled from his own kingdom by his brother.<ref name="Elayi 2018" />

While Rib-Hadda's brother was on the throne, Byblos continued to communicate with the Egyptians, although there is some contention over potential alliances between Byblos and Amurru and the Hittite Empire as well.<ref name="Marwan 2019"/>

Interactions between Byblos and Egypt declined in the 12th and 11th centuries BC with the fall of the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]]. Following Egypt's resurgence, kingdoms such as [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] and [[Sidon]] were favoured over Byblos.<ref name="Marwan 2019"/> By the Early Iron Age, Byblos no longer had connections to any great powers in the region. While the city still had religious authority until the [[Roman Empire]], it had long lost its economic and political importance.<ref name="Marwan 2019"/>