Abba-El II (reigned middle 16th century BC - Middle chronology) was the king of Halab (formerly Yamhad) who reigned after the withdrawal of the Hittites.[1]
Reign
Abba-El is known through his Royal Seal used by his descendant Niqmepa, king of Alalakh as a dynastic seal.[1] In the seal he is described as the mighty king, servant of Hadad, beloved of Hadad, devotee of Hadad,[2] which were the titles that the old kings of Yamhad used.[3] While the seal mentions the name of Abba-El II, the king depicted in it could be Abba-El I.[4]
According to prof. Trevor Bryce, Aleppo was restored by Abba-El's father Sarra-Ee;[5] however, other Historians such as Michael C. Astour consider Abba-El II to be the king who restored the kingdom.[6]
Aleppo recovered from the Hittite invasion and expanded its territory to some of its former lands including Alalakh, Niya and Ama'u.[7]
Succession
Abba-El's immediate successor was his probable son Ilim-Ilimma I,[6][8] the father of Idrimi who continued the dynasty of Yamhad in Alalakh after Aleppo fell to the Mitannians in ca. 1525 BC.[5][9]
Archi, Alfonso (2015). "A Royal Seal from Ebla (17th cent. B.C.) with Hittite Hieroglyphic Symbols". Orientalia. 84 (1). Gregorian Biblical Press: 18–28. JSTOR26153279.