Aziru

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Aziru was the Canaanite ruler of Amurru, modern Lebanon, in the fourteenth century BC. He was the son of Abdi-Ashirta, the previous Egyptian vassal of Amurru.

The dealings of Aziru is well-known from the Amarna letters. While being a formal vassal of Egypt, he tried to expand his kingdom towards the Mediterranean coast and captured the city of Sumur (Simyrra). This was seen with alarm by his neighbouring states, particularly Rib-Addi, the king of Gubla, (Byblos), who pledged for Egyptian troops to be sent for their protection. Eventually Aziru was commanded to present himself before the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten to explain his deeds. Aziru had however already taken secret contacts with the Hittite king Suppiluliuma I, and upon his return to Amurru he switched his allegiance to the Hittites. He was later executed by Horemheb and his Egyptian invaders, once peace had been declared between Egypt and the Hittites.