 During the Old Hittite Kingdom prior to 1400 BC, the king of the Hittites was not viewed by his subjects as a "living god" like the Pharaohs of Egypt, but rather as a first among equals.Only in the later period from 1400 BC until 1200 BC did the Hittite kingship become more centralized and powerful.Also in earlier years the succession was not legally fixed, enabling "War of the Roses" style rivalries between northern and southern branches.