Mantra Iyer, Press Corps 12
BRONZE AGE POWER COUNCIL, Historical Crisis – The goal was never to just survive – but to thrive. On February 18, 1200 BCE, in yet another pointless gathering of prominent Pharaohs and Queens of the Mediterranean, one Pharaoh seemed to have had enough. King Adad-Shuma-Usur of Babylonia had just raided the neighboring Kingdom, Kingdom of Elam, conquering it with ease.
Although previously echoing the necessity of cooperation and collaboration (see Discourse in Kingdom Paradise: Tensions Reach a Boiling Point in Bronze Age Power Council), King Adad-Shuma-Usur seemingly abandoned his principles when given an opportunity to power grab. His justification? The Kingdom of Elam was his birthright.
The NAIMUN Daily managed to wrangle the opportunity to talk to King Adad-Shuma-Usur (who was last seen thoroughly enjoying his victory over Elam).
“Elam used to be a tributary kingdom to Babylonia, up until 80 years ago when they rebelled,” Usur said. “Lore [the background guide] tells us that the King had ambition to conquer Babylonia, and I just wanted to get a jump on them first.”
Facing almost no retaliation from Elamite King Kidin-Hutran III, Adad-Shuma-Usur was able to reclaim Elam in one swift motion, even feeling “gracious” enough to offer newly former King Kidin-Hutran III a minor job on his council.
“Believe it or not. I never even had the intention to take over Babylon.” Kidin-Hurtan told NAIMUN Daily. “The fact of the matter is that Elam has been brutally subjugated by Babylon, but all Elam ever wanted was indepence.”
This inspiring takeover resulted in a domino effect of other attempts at the thrones – there was a collective hunger to not just survive but to thrive. Although many failed attempts occurred, one seemed to slip through the cracks, fracturing Egypt’s power balance. A once thought-to-be innocent duo Amenmesse, King of Northern Egypt, and Ramesse Khamenteru (Bay), a powerbroker in Egypt with long-standing relationship with the King Seti II, seemed to be implicated in the crime of attempting to steal King Seti II’s throne.
“Safe to say, I did feel betrayed by Bay,” King Seti II told NAIMUN Daily. “I mean yes, we both tried to kill each other, but that doesn’t mean you try to steal my throne.” NAIMUN Daily can firmly conclude that these two aren't baes anymore.
Although initially committed to claiming stake as Egypt’s new Pharaoh, Bay later pulled out of the running of Egypt’s Next Top Pharoh, the Pharaoh candidacy race, explaining she would rather have a hidden role, running the shadow government of Egypt. This abdication in candidacy allowed crowd-favorite Nakht-Min, police chief of Egypt, to swoop in to steal the throne in a pluralistic vote, embarrassing the other candidates.
Despite this, a jealous Amenmesse threatens to torch Egypt – now whether the rage of flames will be able to incinerate the Mediterranean or be extinguished just like all other Amenmesse ambitions is yet to be discovered.