Aplahanda

Aplahanda was a king of Carchemish proposed to have reigned between 1786 and 1766 BCE, during the Middle Bronze IIA.

Attestations
He was first known from a cylinder seal translated by Rene Dussaud in 1929. The seal was found at the base of the mound of Ugarit before excavations began.

At least 6 seals naming Aplahanda have been published. They are skilfully produced, and show mostly Babylonian influence, although some Syrian and Egyptian motifs are also present.

He is also found mentioned in the Mari tablets, reigning at the same time as Yasmah-Addu and Zimri-Lim, by whom he is addressed as a brother. His name was suggested to be Amorite by I. J. Gelb and the hypothesis of a Semitic origin was supported by Wilfred G. Lambert.

At Acemhöyük (Anatolia), the Sarıkaya Palace yielded two bullea mentions Aplahanda.

Reign
He was allied with Shamshi-Adad (1809/1808-1776/1775 BC) in a war against Sumu-Epuh of Aleppo (Yamhad) that was unsuccessful. He was contemporary with king Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BC).

Death
He is known to have died in 1766 based on a letter of Ishtaran-Nasir. Aplahanda was succeeded by his son, Yatar-Ami, who ruled for only two years.

His daughter called Matrunna is also known; she had a non-Semitic, possibly Hurrian name. His other son was Yahdul-Lim.