KBo 1:10

Source: Beckman, 23; Hagenbuchner

(excerpt)

Thus says Hattusilis, Great King, King of Hatti: say to Kadashman-ellil, Great King, King of Babylonia, my brother:

I am well. My household, my wife, my sons, my infantry, my horses, [my chariots] and everything in my land is well.

May you be well! May your household, your wives, your sons, your infantry, your horses, your chariots and everything in your land be very well.

When your father and I established friendly relations and became affectionate brothers, we did not become brothers ofr a single day. Did we not establish brotherhood and friendly relations in perpetuity? We then set down [an agreement] with one another as follows: "We are mortal. The survivor shall protect the children of the one who goes first to his fate." Then when tour father went to his fate while the gods prepared [longevity for me], I wept for him like a brother. [After] I had fulfilled [my mourning responsibilities] for your father, I dried my tears and [immediately] dispatched a messenger, writing to the nobles of Babylonia as follows: "If you do not protect the progeny of my brother in regard to rule, I will become hostile to you. I will come and conquer Babylonia, But if an enemy somehow arises against you or some matter becomes troublesome for you, write to me so that I can come to your aid." But my brother was a child in those days and hey did not read out the tablets in your presence. Now are none of those scribes still living? Are the tablers not iled? Let them read those tablets to you now. I wrote these words to them with good intentions, but Itti-marduk-balatsu - whom the gods have caused to live far too long and in whose mouth unfavourable words never cease - he froze my heart with the words he wrote to me: "You do not write to us like a brother. You pressure us as if we were your subjects".

Let me ask my brother: how did I ever pressure them as if they were my subjects? Have the people of Babylonia ever pressured the people of Hatti? Conversely, have the people of Hatti indeed ever pressured the people of Babylonia? I wrote to them with good intentions: "The progeny of my brother Kadashman-turgu shall be protected", but Itti-marduk-balatsu wrote this to me...etc. etc.