The gal mesedi was a Hittite military and administrative title literally meaning "chief of the royal bodyguards".[1] It is considered to be one of the most important and prestigious posts of the Hittite Kingdom.[2]
History[]
The gal mesedi was a commander responsible for the safety of the king himself. On most cases he was a member of the royal family and sometimes the brother of the king, whom he sometimes succeeded as in the case of Hattusili III, who before becoming a king was the gal mesedi of his brother, King Muwatalli II.[3] A gal mesedi could also at times command independent military units that weren't under the king's jurisdiction.
See also[]
- Gal dubsar
Sources[]
- Notes
- References
- Bryce, Trevor (2004-12-17). Life and society in the Hittite world. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927588-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=-4OHxYNRdhAC. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
- Beal, Richard Henry (1992). The organisation of the Hittite military. C. Winter. ISBN 978-3-533-04562-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=alMsAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
The original article can be found at Gal mesedi and the edit history here.