Editing Hyksos (section)

===Diplomacy===
[[File:Khyan.jpg|thumb|Lion inscribed with the name of the Hyksos ruler [[Khyan]], found in [[Baghdad]], suggesting [[Egypt–Mesopotamia relations|relations with Babylon]]. The prenomen of Khyan and epithet appear on the breast. [[British Museum]], EA 987.{{sfn|Weigall|2016|p=188}}<ref name="Statue British Museum">{{cite web |title=Statue |id=EA987 |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA987 |website=The British Museum}}</ref>]]
The Hyksos engagement in long-distance diplomacy is confirmed by a [[cuneiform]] letter discovered in the ruins of Avaris. Hyksos diplomacy with [[Crete]] and [[ancient Near East]] is also confirmed by the presence of gifts from the Hyksos court in those places.{{sfn|Bietak|2012|p=4}} [[Khyan]], one of the Hyksos rulers, is known for his wide-ranging contacts, as objects in his name have been found at [[Knossos]] and [[Hattusha]] indicating diplomatic contacts with Crete and the [[Hittites]], and a sphinx with his name was bought on the art market at [[Baghdad]] and might demonstrate [[Egypt–Mesopotamia relations|diplomatic contacts with Babylon]], possibly with the first [[Kassites]] ruler [[Gandash]].{{sfn|Weigall|2016|p=188}}<ref name="Statue British Museum"/>

The Theban rulers of the Seventeenth Dynasty are known to have imitated the Hyksos both in their architecture and regnal names.{{sfn|Morenz|Popko|2010|p=108}} There is evidence of friendly relations between the Hyksos and Thebes, including possibly a marriage alliance, before the reign of the Theban pharaoh Seqenenra Tao.{{sfn|Van de Mieroop|2011|p=160}}

An intercepted letter between Apepi and the King of [[Kingdom of Kerma]], also called Kush, to the south of Egypt recorded on the Carnarvon Tablet has been interpreted as evidence of an alliance between the Hyksos and Kermans.{{sfn|Stiebing|2009|p=168}} Intensive contacts between Kerma and the Hyksos are further attested by seals with the names of Asiatic rulers or with designs known from Avaris at Kerma.{{sfn|Ilin-Tomich|2016|p=9}} The troops of Kerma are known to have raided as far north as [[Elkab]] according to an inscription of [[Sobeknakht II]].{{sfn|Popko|2013|p=4}} According to his second stele, Kamose was effectively caught between the campaign for the siege of Avaris in the north and the offensive of Kerma in the south; it is unknown whether or not the Kermans and Hyksos were able to combine forces against him.{{sfn|Van de Mieroop|2011|p=161}} Kamose reports returning "in triumph" to Thebes. Lutz Popko suggests that this "was perhaps a mere tactical retreat to prevent a war on two fronts".{{sfn|Popko|2013|p=4}} Ahmose I was also forced to confront a threat from the Nubians during his siege of Avaris: he was able to stop the forces of Kerma by sending a strong fleet, killing their ruler named A'ata.{{sfn|Bunson|2014|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-6EJ0G-4jyoC&pg=PA2 2–3]}}{{sfn|Bunson|2014|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-6EJ0G-4jyoC&pg=PA197 197]}} Ahmose I boasts about these successes on his tomb at Thebes.{{sfn|Bunson|2014|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-6EJ0G-4jyoC&pg=PA2 2–3]}} The Kermans also appear to have provided mercenaries to the Hyksos.{{sfn|Bietak|2012|p=4}}