Editing Vassal state (section)

====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"/>