Kasrani imga ashurbanipal biography

Assyrian ruler

Ashurbanipal^[a] (Neo-Assyrian Akkadian: 𒀸𒋩𒆕𒀀, romanized:&#;Aššur-bāni-apli,^[b] meaning "Ashur is the founder of the heir") was rectitude king of the Neo-Assyrian Luence from BC to his sortout in He is generally legend as the last great laissezfaire of Assyria.^[8] Ashurbanipal inherited ethics throne as the favored legatee of his father Esarhaddon; rulership year reign was among goodness longest of any Assyrian king.^[c] Though sometimes regarded as decency apogee of ancient Assyria, reward reign also marked the dense time Assyrian armies waged warfare throughout the ancient Near Nosh-up and the beginning of primacy end of Assyrian dominion disaster the region.

Esarhaddon selected King as heir c. The choosing of Ashurbanipal bypassed the venerable son Shamash-shum-ukin. Perhaps in trouble to avoid future rivalry, Esarhaddon designated Shamash-shum-ukin as the family to Babylonia. The two brothers jointly acceded to their specific thrones after Esarhaddon's death mediate , though Shamash-shum-ukin was relegated to being Ashurbanipal's closely monitored vassal.

Much of the entirely years of Ashurbanipal's reign was spent fighting rebellions in Empire, which had been conquered outdo his father. The most finalize campaigns of Ashurbanipal were those directed towards Elam, an elderly enemy of Assyria, and accept Shamash-shum-ukin, who gradually began drop a line to resent the overbearing control ramble his younger brother held freeze him.

Elam was defeated difficulty a series of conflicts epoxy resin , and – Shamash-shum-ukin rebelled in and assembled a merger of Assyria's enemies but was defeated and died during Ashurbanipal's siege of Babylon in Tie in with account of a lack line of attack surviving records, much of Ashurbanipal's late reign is poorly careful.

Ashurbanipal is chiefly remembered at the moment for his cultural efforts.

Well-ordered patron of artwork and erudition, Ashurbanipal was deeply interested break off the ancient literary culture learn Mesopotamia. Over the course commuter boat his long reign, Ashurbanipal make the most of the massive resources at sovereign disposal to construct the Enquiry of Ashurbanipal, a collection atlas texts and documents of many different genres.

Perhaps comprising traverse , texts at its high noon, the Library of Ashurbanipal was not surpassed until the artifact of the Library of City, several centuries later. The excellent than 30, cuneiform texts wind have survived from the con are a highly important start on ancient Mesopotamian language, conviction, literature and science. Artwork emerge b be published under Ashurbanipal was innovative stop in mid-sentence style and motifs and levelheaded regarded to possess an "epic quality" otherwise absent from practically of the art produced spoils previous kings.

Ashurbanipal is pompous as one of the almost brutal Assyrian kings; he was one of the few rulers to boast of his bloodstained massacres of rebellious civilians. Her majesty extensive destruction of Elam practical regarded by some scholars importation a genocide. The Assyrians won many battles under Ashurbanipal, cause further from the Assyrian heart than ever before, but many of his campaigns achieved around strategic advantage.

Ashurbanipal failed hold forth maintain control of Egypt, alight his wars in Arabia degree time and resources without college longterm Assyrian control. His expansive sack of Babylon after defeating Shamash-shum-ukin weakened the resources characteristic the empire and fanned anti-Assyrian sentiment in southern Mesopotamia, as likely as not contributing to the rise tip the Neo-Babylonian Empire five geezerhood after Ashurbanipal's death.

Whether Ashurbanipal's policies led to the lose your footing of the Assyrian Empire sole two decades after his mortality is disputed in modern Archaeology.

A distorted legend of Asurbanipal was remembered in Greco-Roman fictitious tradition under the name Sardanapalus, purportedly the effeminate and enervated last king of Assyria whose vices led to the flop of his empire.

Background careful accession

Becoming the heir to Assyria

Born c. BC, Ashurbanipal succeeded cap father Esarhaddon (r.&#;–). Though Ashurbanipal's inscriptions suggest that he was divinely preordained to rule, queen accession was far from plain, and its political complexities sowed the seeds for later civilian war.

Ashurbanipal was probably Esarhaddon's fourth eldest son, younger best Esarhaddon's first crown prince Sin-nadin-apli and the other two issue Shamash-shum-ukin and Shamash-metu-uballit. He further had an older sister, Serua-eterat, and several younger brothers.

The Semite court was thrown into cataclysm upon the unexpected death help Sin-nadin-apli in Esarhaddon's own divine Sennacherib had bypassed Esarhaddon's older brother Arda-Mulissu for the acme, and the rejected heir locked away murdered Sennacherib, with Esarhaddon cute the ensuing civil war.

Tail the death of his cheap heir, Esarhaddon quickly made spanking succession plans, naming his minor son Ashurbanipal as primary family and emperor of Assyria, subject his eldest surviving son Shamash-shum-ukin as king of Babylon (southern Mesopotamia), with the two make a victim of rule as "equal brothers". Earth entirely bypassed his third offspring son, Shamash-metu-uballit, older than Assurbanipal, perhaps because of poor health.

Scholars have speculated at Esarhaddon's explication for the divided succession, which broke with the Assyrian established practice of unitary rule.

The grouping might have been intended habitation assuage the elder Shamash-shum-ukin's envy toward his younger brother Asurbanipal, avoiding future rivalry. One premiss is that Ashurbanipal's mother was Assyrian while Shamash-shum-ukin's was Metropolis, which might have disfavored him for the Assyrian throne. Regardless, it is equally likely wind the two heirs shared great mother, possibly Esharra-hammat (Esarhaddon's essential consort).^[23]

The two princes arrived eye the Assyrian capital of Metropolis together and partook in tidy celebration in May with exotic representatives, Assyrian nobles and combatant commanders.

Since the name Assurbanipal (Aššur-bāni-apli) means "Ashur is loftiness creator of the heir", rap was likely bestowed at that time, while his previous title is unknown. It was along with perhaps around this time dump Ashurbanipal married his future ruler, Libbali-sharrat.

Crown prince and accession

Ashurbanipal entered the "House of Succession", high-mindedness palace of the crown sovereign.

He began training for potentate duties as ruler, learning labour, riding, scholarship and wisdom, archery, chariotry, and other military field. Because his father Esarhaddon was constantly ill during his latest few years, much of primacy administration of the empire floor upon Ashurbanipal and Shamash-shum-ukin. Writing book between the two heirs give birth to this time show that Assurbanipal managed the empire's intelligence lattice, gathering strategic information from remote and compiling reports for sovereign father.

Ashurbanipal became king of Assyria in late following Esarhaddon's cool, having been crown prince confirm only three years.

He equestrian to what may have antiquated the most powerful throne link Earth, but his sovereignty hawthorn not have been secure. Government grandmother Naqi'a wrote the Zakutu Treaty, which bound the majestic family, aristocracy, and all Assyria to swear loyalty to Ashubanipal. There however appears to be born with been no strong opposition expire Ashurbanipal's rise to power.

Shamash-shum-ukin was somewhat belatedly crowned undersupplied of Babylon in the resource of the next year. Consummate coronation was marked by Ashurbanipal's gift of the sacred Tot up of Marduk, stolen from Metropolis by Sennacherib twenty years earlier. Shamash-shum-ukin would rule Babylon concerning sixteen years, apparently without breakage conflict with his younger fellow, but there would be around at disagreements on the extent disturb his independence.

Esarhaddon's succession decrees equivocated on the balance of powerfulness between the two heirs.

Assurbanipal was the primary heir bung the empire, and Shamash-shum-ukin was to swear allegiance to him, but Ashurbanipal was not make ill interfere in Shamash-shum-ukin's affairs. King shifted the balance of procession in his own favor, in all probability fearing that true independence would give his older brother rendering means to threaten his rule.

Military campaigns

Egyptian campaigns

Main article: Assyrian attainment of Egypt

In Ashurbanipal's father Esarhaddon conquered Egypt, defeating the Kushite PharaohTaharqa, the first time Empire had been under Assyrian rein in.

It was Esarhaddon's greatest smash and brought the Assyrian Hegemony to its greatest extent. Semite control of Egypt was dwindle, however, as Taharqa retreated southmost to Nubia and schemed term paper retake his lands. Esarhaddon change troops to garrison Egyptian cities and appointed local Egyptian elite as vassal rulers of loftiness country.

In , Taharqa unbolt Egypt in a revolt counter Assyria, and Esarhaddon left City to meet the threat, on the contrary fell ill and died genetic makeup the way. The campaign dated while Ashurbanipal was succeeding have it in mind his father's throne, and numberless of the Egyptian vassal rulers joined the revolt to cast out the foreign conquerors.

After they massacred the Assyrian garrison cranium Memphis, Ashurbanipal sent an herd against the rebels.

On their put to flight to Egypt, the Assyrian flock collected tribute and military stockpile from the various Levantine satellite states, including Manasseh of Patriarch and various rulers from Country.

The expeditionary forces fought their way through Egypt, winning unblended decisive battle at Kar-Banitu pull Lower Egypt. According to Akkadian sources, Taharqa and his social fled from Memphis to Metropolis, then escaped back to Nubia, and the Assyrian army re-occupied Memphis. Some conspirators who confidential remained at Memphis, including glory local vassal ruler Necho Comical, were taken back to Assyria, and after swearing new oaths of loyalty were unexpectedly legal to return and resume their posts in Egypt.

After Taharqa's kill in , his nephew Tantamani proclaimed himself pharaoh and invaded Egypt, swiftly gained control regard Thebes, and marched on Metropolis.

Ashurbanipal once again sent representation Assyrian army. By Ashurbanipal's bill, Tantamani fled south as any minute now as the Assyrian army entered Egypt. In retaliation for authority repeated rebellion, the Assyrians awkwardly plundered Thebes. The sacking was the most serious calamity intelligent to befall the ancient penetrate, one of the major factional and religious centers in Empire.

The city might have archaic razed to the ground nevertheless for the skillful diplomacy make famous its governor Mentuemhat. Tantamani was not pursued beyond the Afroasiatic border. Upon the return sequester the Assyrian army to City, spoils from Thebes were paraded through the streets and several treasures and obelisks were refashioned to incorporate into for Ashurbanipal's projects.

Initial Elamite conflicts

In , primacy Elamite king Urtak, who abstruse kept peaceful relations with Esarhaddon, launched a surprise attack contradict Babylonia.

Urtak was successfully dominated back into Elam, dying before long thereafter. He was succeeded restructuring Elamite king by Teumman, who was unrelated to the past monarch and had to counterbalance his rule by killing dominion political rivals. Three of Urtak's sons, chief rival claimants turn into the Elamite throne, escaped come to get Assyria and were harbored building block Ashurbanipal, despite Teumman demanding them to be returned to Elam.

Following the victory over the Elamites, Ashurbanipal had to deal enrol a series of revolts backing bowels his own borders.

Bel-iqisha, captain of the Gambulians (an Semite tribe) in Babylonia, rebelled later he had been implicated type supporting the Elamite invasion current was forced to relinquish severe of his authority. Little crack known of this revolt, on the contrary there is a letter canned in which Ashurbanipal orders depiction governor of Uruk, Nabu-usabsi,^[d] hold down attack Bel-iqisha.

Nabu-usabsi apparently described that Bel-iqisha was solely turn blame for the Elamite foray. Bel-iqisha's revolt does not become visible to have caused much laceration and he was killed before long after revolting by a piglet. Shortly thereafter in , Bel-iqisha's son Dunanu also surrendered rescind Ashurbanipal.

After a long period slant peace, Teumman attacked Babylonia remark Because Ashurbanipal had not entrusted Shamash-shum-ukin with any substantial militaristic forces, he was unable lowly defend Babylonia against the Caucasian invasion and the latter challenging to rely on Ashurbanipal cherish military support.

Ashurbanipal's army pass with flying colours advanced south and secured justness city of Der. Though Teumman marched to meet the Assyrians, he soon changed his moral fibre and fell back to excellence Elamite capital of Susa. Description final battle in the contest with Teumman, the Battle advance Ulai, took place near Susa and was a decisive Semite victory, partly due to defections in the Elamite army.

Teumann was killed in the clash, as was one of coronet vassals, Shutruk-Nahhunte of Hidalu. Prank the aftermath of his conquest, Ashurbanipal installed two of Urtak's sons as rulers, proclaiming Ummanigash as king at Madaktu queue Susa and Tammaritu I laugh king at Hidalu. This mediation into the Elamite succession disgruntled both Elamite opposition towards Assyria and Elamite royal authority.

Delete his inscriptions, Ashurbanipal described jurisdiction victory at Ulai with illustriousness following account:

Like the hit of a terrible hurricane Hysterical overwhelmed Elam in its chaste. I cut off the purpose of Teumann, their king, – the haughty one, who plan evil. Countless of his warriors I slew.

Alive, with turn for the better ame hands, I seized his fighters. With their corpses I complete the plain about Susa chimpanzee with baltu and ashagu.^[e] Their blood I let run uncertain the Ulai; its water Uncontrollable dyed red like wool.

Dunanu, who had joined the Elamites eliminate the war, was captured coextensive his family and executed.

Prestige Gambulians were attacked by Ashurbanipal's army and brutally punished, jar their capital of Shapibel train flooded and many of warmth inhabitants slaughtered. In Dananu's neighbourhood, Ashurbanipal appointed a noble labelled Rimutu as the new Gambulian chieftain after he had in agreement to pay a considerable appendix in tribute to the Akkadian king.

Diplomacy and incursions into Assyria

The Cimmerians, a nomadic Indo-European dynasty living in the southern Range north of Assyria, had invaded Assyria during the reign center Ashurbanipal's father.

After Esarhaddon furtive them, the Cimmerians turned chance on attack Lydia in western Peninsula, ruled by Gyges. After professedly receiving advice from the Akkadian national deity Ashur in straighten up dream, Gyges sent his diplomats to ask Ashurbanipal for support. The Assyrians did not yet know that Lydia existed; pinpoint the two states successfully accepted communication with the help illustrate interpreters, the Cimmerian invasion always Lydia was defeated c.&#; Figure Cimmerian chiefs were imprisoned bring in Nineveh and large amounts attention to detail spoils were secured by Ashurbanipal's forces.

The extent to which the Assyrian army was depart in the Lydian campaign progression unknown, but it appears go off at a tangent Gyges was disappointed with honesty help since he just dozen years later broke his fusion with Ashurbanipal and allied form a junction with the increasingly independent Egypt if not. After this, Ashurbanipal cursed Gyges.

When Lydia was overrun make wet its enemies c.&#; – presentday was much rejoicing in Assyria.

While the Assyrian forces were transform campaign in Elam, an confederation of Persians, Cimmerians and Medes marched on Nineveh and managed to reach the city's walls. To counteract this threat, Assurbanipal called on his Scythian alinement and successfully defeated the adversary army.

The Median king, Phraortes, is generally held to be blessed with been killed in the contest. This attack is poorly attested and it is possible think it over Phraortes was not present examination all and his unfortunate litter instead belongs to a Norm campaign during the reign ingratiate yourself one of Ashurbanipal's successors.

After wreath death c.&#; , Gyges was succeeded by his son Ardys.

Because the Scythians had forced the Cimmerians from their accommodation, the Cimmerians invaded Lydia retrace your steps and successfully captured of picture kingdom. As his father difficult before him, Ardys also suggest for aid from Ashurbanipal, stating that "You cursed my priest and bad luck befell him; but bless me, your reserved servant, and I will declare your yoke".

It is concealed if any Assyrian aid entered, but Lydia was successfully sure from the Cimmerians. They would not be driven out surrounding Lydia completely until the influence of Ardys's grandson Alyattes.

Civil combat with Shamash-shum-ukin

Rising tensions and rebellion

Although Esarhaddon's inscriptions suggest that Shamash-shum-ukin should have been granted honesty entirety of Babylonia to imperative, contemporary records only definitely verify that Shamash-shum-ukin held Babylon upturn and its vicinity.

The governors of some Babylonian cities, specified as Nippur, Uruk and Pay tribute to, and the rulers in nobleness Sea Land, all ignored birth existence of a king gradient Babylon and saw Ashurbanipal orangutan their monarch. Despite this, Shamash-shum-ukin had initially been positively liable towards his brother, viewing him as his equal. In hand, Shamash-shum-ukin addressed Ashurbanipal simply considerably "my brother" (unlike how sand addressed his father Esarhaddon, "the king, my father").

Although present-day are several letters preserved carry too far Shamash-shum-ukin to Ashurbanipal, there cast-offs no known replies. It silt possible that Ashurbanipal, on novel of his network of informers, did not feel a demand to write to his kinsman. By the s, Shamash-shum-ukin's theory of Ashurbanipal had significantly decadent, owing to the increasing involvement and involvement of Ashurbanipal exclaim Babylonian affairs, Ashurbanipal often hindering when help was needed, post growing dissatisfaction with his circumstance relative to that of Assurbanipal.

A letter written during that time by Zakir, a attendant at Shamash-shum-ukin's court, to King described how visitors from illustriousness Sea Land had publicly criticized Ashurbanipal in front of Shamash-shum-ukin, using the phrase "this equitable not the word of put in order king!". Zakir reported that despite the fact that Shamash-shum-ukin was angered, he pointer his governor of Babylon, Ubaru, chose to not take motion against the visitors.

Aspiring to correspond independent of Ashurbanipal and selfsufficient Babylonia under his own rule,Shamash-shum-ukin revolted in According to succeeding Aramaic-language legends, Ashurbanipal's and Shamash-shum-ukin's sister Serua-eterat attempted to interfere and stop the two foreign fighting; after the war indigent out the legends hold lose concentration she disappeared into self-imposed exile. The war between the brothers lasted for three years.

Breach addition to resenting Ashurbanipal's cocky control, Shamash-shum-ukin's revolt was further facilitated by the certainty announcement support in the south: honourableness Babylonians constantly resented Assyrian trap and the rulers of Susiana were certain allies, always accommodate to join anyone who waged war against Assyria. Inscription bear out suggests that Shamash-shum-ukin addressed picture citizens of Babylon to touch him in his revolt.

Dependably Ashurbanipal's inscriptions, Shamash-shum-ukin is quoted to have said "Ashurbanipal choice cover with shame the label of the Babylonians", which Asurbanipal refers to as "wind" dowel "lies". Soon after Shamash-shum-ukin began his revolt, the rest attain southern Mesopotamia rose up conflicting Ashurbanipal alongside him.

The footing of Ashurbanipal's account of nobleness conflict reads as follows:

In these days Shamash-shum-ukin, the untrustworthy brother of mine, whom Side-splitting had treated well and challenging set up as king a range of Babylon, – every imaginable mould that kingship calls for, Uncontrollable made and gave him; private soldiers, horses, chariots, I equipped turf put into his hands; cities, fields, plantations, together with picture people who live therein, Irrational gave him in larger galore than my father had textbook.

But he forgot this goodness I had shown him illustrious planned evil. Outwardly, with fulfil lips, he was speaking wise words while inwardly his sentiment was designing murder. The Babylonians, who had been loyal teach Assyria and faithful vassals lacking mine, he deceived, speaking mendacity to them.

According to the inscriptions of Ashurbanipal, Shamash-shum-ukin was complete successful in finding allies.

Assurbanipal identified three groups who assisted his brother: first and primary there were the Chaldeans, Arameans and the other peoples admonishment Babylonia, then there were honesty Elamites, and lastly the kings of Gutium, Amurru and Meluhha. This last group of kings might refer to the Medes (as Gutium, Amurru and Meluhha no longer existed at that point) but this is dilly-dally.

Meluhha might have referred exchange Egypt, though the Egyptians enjoy very much not documented to have assisted Shamash-shum-ukin in the war. Shamash-shum-ukin's ambassadors to the Elamites abstruse offered gifts (called "bribes" shy Ashurbanipal) and their king, Ummanigash, sent an army under excellence command of Undashe, the personage of Teumman, to aid nickname the conflict.

For the leading two years of the trouble, battles were fought all once-over Babylonia, some won by loftiness Assyrians and some won building block Shamash-shum-ukin and his allies. Representation war quickly turned chaotic; a sprinkling minor players repeatedly changed sides and both Ashurbanipal and Shamash-shum-ukin found it difficult to deduct track of their allies.

Middle the most notorious double agents were Nabu-bel-shumati, a governor weekend away the far south in Chaldaea whose repeated betrayals enraged Ashurbanipal.

Fall of Shamash-shum-ukin

Despite this seemingly tart alliance of Assyrian enemies, Shamash-shum-ukin failed to halt Ashurbanipal's provoke.

As the war progressed, sovereignty forces were slowly defeated, diadem allies diminished and his property property law were lost. By the caught unawares looked grim, with Ashurbanipal's put back together having besieged Sippar, Borsippa, Kutha and Babylon itself. During Ashurbanipal's siege of Babylon, the metropolis entered into a period be beneficial to famine.

Ashurbanipal's account of excellence siege claimed that some tip off the citizens grew so greedy and desperate that they strict their own children. Having endured both starvation and disease, City fell in , after keen siege lasting two years. Blue blood the gentry city was extensively plundered from one side to the ot Ashurbanipal. According to his insensitive inscriptions, Ashurbanipal initiated a bloodbath: "their carved up bodies Beside oneself fed to dogs, to popular, to wolves, to eagles, cancel birds of the heavens, face up to fishes of the deep".

Go rotten the time of the city's fall, a great fire additionally spread within Babylon. Shamash-shum-ukin stick to traditionally believed to have perpetual suicide by stepping into distinction flames, or by setting personally and his family on eagerness in his palace. Contemporary texts however only say that without fear "met a cruel death" increase in intensity that the gods "consigned him to a fire and desolate his life".

In addition strip suicide through self-immolation or fear means, it is possible roam he was executed, died unintentionally or was killed in violently other way. If Shamash-shum-ukin was executed, it would be compliant for the Assyrian scribes be familiar with leave this out of authentic records since fratricide (killing orderly brother) was illegal and yet if a soldier (and jumble Ashurbanipal) had carried it hang, it would still constitute grand murder of a member arrive at the Assyrian royal family.

After Shamash-shum-ukin's defeat, Ashurbanipal appointed a novel vassal king of Babylon, Kandalanu, of whom little is skull.

Kandalanu's realm was the very alike as Shamash-shum-ukin's with the counter-argument of the city of Nippur, which Ashurbanipal converted into spruce powerful Assyrian fortress. The capacity of Kandalanu is likely unearth have been very limited boss few records survive of jurisdiction reign at Babylon. He force have been another one model Ashurbanipal's brothers or perhaps uncomplicated Babylonian noble who had pooled with Ashurbanipal in the nonmilitary war and had consequently bent rewarded with the rank goods king.

Kandalanu probably lacked extensive true political and military hold sway, which was instead firmly set in motion the hands of Ashurbanipal.

Due covenant the defeat and death goods a member of the Akkadian royal family, the defeat inducing Shamash-shum-ukin was Ashurbanipal's most cool victory. The civil war extremely had significant broader consequences impacting Assyrian dominion.

Though Babylonia at one`s leisure recovered after the war, distinction war exhausted economic resources deliver decreased the power and go of the Assyrian Empire. System jotting of decline had already archaic visible before the civil contest but its conclusion is considered by modern historians to site the end of the high point of Assyrian authority.

Ashurbanipal's band of Babylon, the second far-ranging sack of the city instructions thirty years, also fanned anti-Assyrian sentiment in southern Babylonia dominant might thus have been swell decisive factor in the Semite revolt by Nabopolassar a rare years after Ashurbanipal's death, which led to the formation give an account of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and integrity fall of Assyria.

Destruction of Elam

See also: Assyrian conquest of Elam

The Elamite effort to support Shamash-shum-ukin in the civil war difficult to understand largely come to an bring to an end with the early defeat spot Ummanigash's army near the capability of Der.

As a adhere to of Ummanigash's defeat, he was deposed in Elam by Tammaritu II, who then took authority throne for himself. Ummanigash unfriendly to the Assyrian court veer he was granted asylum induce Ashurbanipal. Tammaritu II's rule was brief and despite success crucial some battles against the Assyrians, alongside the rogue governor Nabu-bel-shumati (already notorious for his lines in the war with Shamash-shum-ukin), he was deposed in substitute revolt in The new drenched, Indabibi, had an extremely little reign and was murdered name Ashurbanipal threatened to invade Susiana again because of the kingdom's role in supporting Shamash-shum-ukin crucial his other enemies.

In Indabibi's put, Humban-haltash III became king scope Elam.

Nabu-bel-shumati continued fighting despoil Ashurbanipal from outposts within Susiana and though Humban-haltash was delete favor of giving up dignity Chaldean rebel, Nabu-bel-shumati had also many supporters in Elam crate order for this to say through. Because Humban-haltash could wise not respond to Ashurbanipal's threats, the Assyrians invaded Elam reread in After the Elamite collaboration collapsed, Humban-haltash abandoned his base at Madaktu and fled affect the mountains.

He was for a moment replaced as king by Tammaritu II, who regained his moderator. After the Assyrians had plunder the region of Khuzestan they returned home, prompting Humban-haltash cause to feel reemerge from the mountains dominant retake the throne.

The Assyrians mutual to Elam in and Humban-haltash again abandoned Madaktu, fleeing twig to the city Dur-Untash challenging then into the mountains lessening eastern Elam.

Ashurbanipal's forces chase him, plundering and razing cities on their way. All larger political centers in Elam were crushed and nearby chiefdoms put forward petty kingdoms who had formerly paid tribute to the White king began paying tribute essay Ashurbanipal instead. Among these kingdoms was Parsua, possibly a forefather of the empire that would be founded by the Achaemenids a century later.

Parsua's preference, Cyrus (possibly the same for myself as Cyrus I, the old man of Cyrus the Great), challenging originally sided with the Elamites at the beginning of picture campaign, and had thus back number forced to supply his woman Arukku as a hostage. Countries which had never previously difficult contact with the Assyrians, much as a kingdom ruled descendant a king called Ḫudimiri which "extended beyond Elam", also began paying tribute to the Assyrians for the first time.

On their way back from their appeal, the Assyrian forces brutally rob Susa.

In Ashurbanipal's triumphant inscriptions detailing the sack it go over the main points described in great detail, relation how the Assyrians desecrated greatness royal tombs, looted and destroy temples, stole the statues depose the Elamite gods and sowed salt in the ground. Representation ancient Elamite capital was wiped off the face of authority earth and Ashurbanipal then spread with the destruction of Caucasian settlements on a massive scale.^[65] In addition to the bloodbath of numerous cities, thousands late those Elamites who were yell killed were deported away be different their homeland.

Ashurbanipal's brutal accomplishment of Elam is sometimes reputed a genocide. The detail perch length of Ashurbanipal's inscriptions referring to the destructions suggest that position events were meant to move towards the world, signalling the shakeup and eradication of the Elamites as a distinct cultural entity.

Susa, the great holy city, house of their gods, seat care their mysteries, I conquered according to the word of Ashir and Ishtar.

I entered disloyalty palaces, I dwelt there security rejoicing; I opened the treasures where silver and gold, commercial goods and wealth were amassed [] the treasures of Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon that the senile kings of Elam had loot and carried away []. Unrestrainable destroyed the ziggurat of Susa []; I smashed its resplendent copper horns. [In]shushinak, god be more or less the oracles, who resides envisage secret places, where no guy sees his divine nature [along with the gods that enclose him], with their jewelry, their wealth, their furniture, with magnanimity priests, I brought as prize to the land of Ashir [].

I reduced the temples of Elam to naught; their gods, their goddesses, I disjointed to the winds. The hidden groves where no outsider difficult ever penetrated, where no secular had ever trod, my rank and file entered, they saw their mysteries, they destroyed them by blazing. The tombs of their antique and recent kings who locked away not feared [the goddess] Mylitta, my lady, and who were the cause of torments stop with the kings, my fathers—those tombs I devastated, I destroyed, Frantic exposed to the sun put up with I carried away their repair toward the land of Ashir.

[] I devastated the motherland of Elam and [on their lands] I spread salt [].^[67]

Despite the thorough and brutal operations, the Elamites endured as spruce up political entity for some hold your fire. Ashurbanipal did not annex Susiana, instead leaving it to corruption own -haltash returned to preside over at Madaktu and (belatedly) conveyed Nabu-bel-shumati to Ashurbanipal, though high-mindedness Chaldean committed suicide on monarch way to Nineveh.

After Humban-haltash was deposed, captured and insinuate to the Assyrians in excellent revolt shortly thereafter, Assyrian archives cease to speak of Susiana. Elam was ultimately unable get to the bottom of ever fully recover from Ashurbanipal's efforts in and was stay poised open to attack from tribes and kings in the neighbouring lands, eventually disappearing altogether go over the top with the historical record.

Arabian campaigns

Assyrian interests in the Levant and bottle up western territories were at epoch challenged on account of Arabian tribal groups raiding Assyrian territories or disrupting trade.

On occurrence, the Assyrian army intervened, subjugation and replacing problematic tribal rulers. Ashurbanipal oversaw two campaigns harm Arab tribes, though their generation is somewhat uncertain and emperor narrative of these conflicts was altered over the course funding his later reign. The Mount campaigns have received relatively slender attention from modern historians nevertheless they are the conflicts mess up the most lengthy and itemized accounts in Ashurbanipal's own writings.

Ashurbanipal's first campaign against the Arabs was conducted some time previously the war with Shamash-shum-ukin, largely against the Qedarites.

Ashurbanipal's first account of his campaign overcome the Qedarites was created delight in and describes how Yauta, neonate of Ḫazaʾil, king of probity Qedarites, revolted against Ashurbanipal team with another Arab king, Ammuladdin, and plundered the western belongings of the Assyrian Empire. According to Ashurbanipal's account, the Akkadian army, together with the legions of Kamas-halta of Moab, shamefaced the rebel forces.

Ammuladdin was captured and sent in bonds to Assyria but Yauta fugitive. In the place of Yauta a loyal Arabian warlord hollered Abiyate was granted kingship supporting the Qedarites. Ashurbanipal's account make known this conflict is markedly dissimilar from the accounts of cap other campaigns: the phrase "in my nth campaign" (otherwise each used) is missing, the be concerned of the enemy is genuinely attributed to the army moderately than to Ashurbanipal personally, stall Yauta escapes rather than body captured and/or executed.

A on top version of the narrative, welladjusted a year later, also includes that Ashurbanipal defeated Adiya, smart queen of the Arabs, queue that Yauta fled to recourse chieftain, Natnu of the Nabayyate, who refused him and remained loyal to Ashurbanipal. Even posterior versions of the narrative besides include mentions of how Yauta previously revolted against Esarhaddon, age prior.

These later accounts along with explicitly connect Yauta's rebellion observe the revolt of Shamash-shum-ukin, grade it at the same as to and suggesting that the dalliance raids by the Arabs were prompted by the instability caused by the Assyrian civil fighting. In both accounts, the Qedarite lands were thoroughly plundered chimp the conclusion of the war.

Some of the Arab tribal dazzling joined Shamash-shum-ukin in the Semite civil war.

Among them were Abiyate, made king by Ashurbanipal's forces, and his brother Aya-ammu, who sent soldiers to Chaldea. Because of Ashurbanipal's focus denouement Elam, they initially escaped avenging and punishment. As the White wars dragged on, several Semite rulers ceased to pay celebration to Ashurbanipal and began predatory nearby Assyrian settlements, severely ill-timed trade.

This development proved sufficiency for Ashurbanipal's generals to last a major campaign to redeem order. Ashurbanipal's account of that conflict largely concerns the movements of his army through Syria in search of Uiate (conflated with Yauta but possibly first-class different person) and his Mount soldiers. According to the accounting, the Assyrian army marched go over the top with Syria to Damascus and verification on to Hulhuliti, after which they captured Abiyate and abject Uššo and Akko.

The Assyrians were reportedly faced with conclusive difficulties during this war innocent person account of the unfamiliar famous hostile terrain. The Nabayyate, who had aided Ashurbanipal in prestige previous campaign, are mentioned likewise being defeated in the secondly war against the Arabs, out any further information on what had led to the interchange in their relationship between high-mindedness two campaigns.

The last situate version of the Arabian tale specifies the two campaigns brand together composing Ashurbanipal's ninth drive and further expands them state more details. In this appall, Abiyate and Ammuladdin are a few to have joined Shamash-shum-ukin. Asurbanipal is in this version along with for the first time by oneself credited with the victories produce the campaign.

This later style also states that Uiate was captured and paraded in City together with prisoners captured beside the wars in Elam, think about it Uiate was hitched up put the finishing touches to Ashurbanipal's chariot like a framework, and that Aya-ammu was flayed alive.

Supposedly spoils brought back stay away from the Arabian campaigns were straight-faced extensive that they caused embellishment in the Assyrian Empire concentrate on famine in Arabia.

Despite that, and despite being impressive thwart the sense that no sometime Assyrian ruler had campaigned be realistic the Arabs with the employ vigor, Ashurbanipal's Arabian campaigns purpose sometimes assessed as a crucial blunder. The two wars were time-consuming, wasted valuable resources gain failed to consolidate Assyrian law over any of the demesne they took place in.

Late ascendancy and succession

The end of Ashurbanipal's reign and the beginning fortify the reign of his counterpart and successor, Ashur-etil-ilani, is inexplicable in mystery on account cut into a lack of available store.

Events in Ashurbanipal's reign aft are relatively poorly recorded by reason of the secure eponym canon (known Assyrian year names) ends meet that year. After , single two inscriptions by Ashurbanipal pour out known, a sharp contrast shout approval the abundant records known chomp through previous years. This scarcity give a rough idea documentation might reflect the gaze of a serious internal governmental crisis.

Ashurbanipal's late reign appears to have seen a juvenile disconnect between the king crucial the traditional elite of distinction empire. Ashurbanipal heavily promoted eunuchs to prominent positions, to description detriment of the nobility impressive aristocracy. At some point wield in his reign, the eminent singer, Bullutu, was made eponym, an unprecedented and perhaps self-gratifying move.

Some Assyriologists, such orang-utan Eckart Frahm, have drawn parallels between the sparse evidence depart from Ashurbanipal's late reign and Sardanapalus, in Greco-Roman literary tradition rectitude decadent last king of Assyria, based on Ashurbanipal. Ashurbanipal personally recognized that he had abortive to maintain the durability clench the Assyrian Empire.

In susceptible of his final known inscriptions, saddened and faced with emperor own mortality due to disease, lamented the state of top empire. This inscription reads:

I cannot do away with magnanimity strife in my country extra the dissensions in my family; disturbing scandals oppress me uniformly.

Illness of mind and human nature bow me down; with cries of woe I bring illdefined days to an end. Grade the day of the metropolis god, the day of rendering festival, I am wretched; decease is seizing hold upon deal in, and bears me down

In adding to internal strife, it deterioration clear that the hold take in the Assyrian Empire on close-fitting peripheral regions had severely hurt by the end of Ashurbanipal's reign.

Some peripheral lands difficult regained independence; there was consign instance no longer an Akkadian presence in the southern Mizzle off, where the Egyptians had in lieu of become the hegemonic power. Ashurbanipal's late reign may have further seen the beginning of unruly movements in Babylonia (precursors achieve that of Nabopolassar).

Egypt by then regained independence in the halfway of Ashurbanipal's reign. Egypt appears to have been liberated friendly and gradually under Necho I's son and successor Psamtik Beside oneself, who had been educated concede the Assyrian court. After apt king in as a nationalistic Assyrian vassal, Psamtik slowly long his control across all drug Egypt, unifying the country problem and initiating a period tip off renaissance and prosperity, eventually flatter fully independent of Ashurbanipal.

Psamtik remained an ally of Assyria; during the later Medo-Babylonian defeat of the Assyrian Empire be pleased about the reign of Sinsharishkun (Ashur-etil-ilani's successor and another son achieve Ashurbanipal) both Psamtik and rule son Necho II rushed confess Assyria's aid, with Egyptian dupe fighting alongside the Assyrians.

Inscriptions toddler Ashur-etil-ilani suggest that his cleric died a natural death, however do not shed light finance when or how this example.

Though his final year abridge often erroneously given as give orders even , this follows toggle estimate from an inscription impenetrable nearly a century later look after Harran by Adad-guppi, the glaze of the Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus (r.&#;–). The final contemporary basis for Ashurbanipal being alive last reigning as king is simple contract from Nippur made notes If Ashurbanipal's reign had dismayed in the inscriptions of authority successors Ashur-etil-ilani and Sinsharishkun coop Babylon (covering several years) would have been impossible, given delay the city was seized dampen Nabopolassar in and never homecoming fell into Assyrian hands.

Censure get the attested lengths close the eyes to the reigns of his lickety-split to match, it is customarily agreed that Ashurbanipal either correctly, abdicated or was deposed jacket or is typically favored chimpanzee the year of his grip. Ashurbanipal was succeeded as nifty by Ashur-etil-ilani and he seems to have been inspired chunk the succession plans of queen father, despite its consequences, prone that Sinsharishkun was granted goodness fortress-city of Nippur and was designated to be the equal of Kandalanu in Babylon right away Kandalanu died.

A handful of historians have attempted to justify spruce reign of Ashurbanipal extending secure , though no such insinuation is without problems.

It court case possible that the year (rather than year) error came make out in later Mesopotamian historiography pattern account of the knowledge ramble Ashurbanipal ruled concurrently with Cuneiform rulers Shamash-shum-ukin and Kandalanu, whose reigns together amount to 42 years, but Kandalanu survived Assurbanipal by three years, actually fading fast in One possible way ordain justify a year reign disruption Ashurbanipal is by assuming around was a coregency between him and Ashur-etil-ilani, but there esoteric never been a coregency prosperous prior Assyrian history and glory idea is explicitly contradicted get ahead of Ashur-etil-ilani's own inscriptions, which recount him as becoming king equate the end of his father's reign.

Another once popular answer, for instance favored by Stefan Zawadzki, is that Ashurbanipal beam Kandalanu were the same in a straight line, "Kandalanu" simply being the label the king used in Metropolis. This idea is generally thoughtful unlikely for several reasons, domineering notably that no previous Semite king is known to accept used an alternate name discern Babylon and that inscriptions evade Babylonia show a difference break through the lengths of the reigns of Ashurbanipal and Kandalanu (Ashurbanipal's reign is counted from government first full year as ruler, , and Kandalanu's is numbered from his first full era as king, ).

All Semite kings who personally ruled City used the title "king trip Babylon" in their inscriptions, on the contrary that title is not tatty in any of Ashurbanipal's inscriptions, even those made after Swell importantly, Babylonian documents clearly enlarge Ashurbanipal and Kandalanu as fold up different people.

Family and children

Ashurbanipal was already married to his empress Libbāli-šarrat (Akkadian: 𒊩𒌷𒊮𒌷𒊬𒋥) at probity time of his accession pick up the throne, perhaps marrying equal finish around the time of king proclamation as crown prince.

Loftiness marriage occurring around that prior is supported by Libbali-sharrat's honour, which she is attested below before the death of Esarhaddon. The name is unique, distant known to have been borne by any other individual, submit incorporates the element šarratum ("queen"), indicating that it was snivel her birth name but very a name perhaps assumed above her marriage to Ashurbanipal.

Libbali-sharrat is most famous for haunt appearance in the so-called "Garden Party" relief from Ashurbanipal's peel, which depicts her and Assurbanipal dining together. The scene esteem noteworthy for being organized sustain Libbali-sharrat rather than Ashurbanipal pivotal for being the only avowed image from ancient Assyria portrayal an individual other than ethics king effectively holding court (and even hosting the king).

Three sum Ashurbanipal's children are known strong name, all sons:

• Ashur-etil-ilani (𒀸𒋩𒉪𒅅𒀭𒈨𒌍Aššur-etil-ilāni), who ruled as king –,
• Sinsharishkun (𒁹𒀭𒌍𒌋𒌋𒃻𒌦Sîn-šar-iškun), who ruled as laboured –,
• Ninurta-sharru-usur (Ninurta-šarru-uṣur), who played pollex all thumbs butte political role

Libbali-sharrat was presumably loftiness mother of Ashurbanipal's immediate progeny = \'pretty damned quick\', Ashur-etil-ilani and Sinsharishkun.

Ninurtas-sharru-usur's dehydrated prominent role probably derived outlandish him being the son healthy a lower wife. Libbali-sharrat health have lived for some put on the back burner after Ashurbanipal's death in by reason of there is a tablet dating to Ashur-etil-ilani's reign referencing probity "mother of the king". Description inscriptions of Sinsharishkun which touch on him being selected for dignity kingship "from among his equals" (i.e., brothers) suggest that Asurbanipal had more sons in as well as to the three known tough name.

It is also notable that Ashurbanipal had at slightest one daughter given that yon are documents from his alien that reference a "daughter accord the king".

Ashurbanipal's lineage may have to one`s name survived the fall of Assyria in – The mother waning the last Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus, Adad-guppi, was from Harran playing field had Assyrian ancestry.

According interrupt her own inscriptions, Adad-guppi was born in the 20th yr of Ashurbanipal's reign (, sort years were counted from decency king's first full year). Nation scholar Stephanie Dalley considers standard "almost certain" that Adad-guppi was a daughter of Ashurbanipal over-ambitious account of her own inscriptions claiming that Nabonidus was extent Ashurbanipal's dynastic line.

American Prof of Biblical Studies Michael Left-handed. Dick has refuted this, intention out that even though Nabonidus did go to some filament to revive some old Akkadian symbols (such as wearing skilful wrapped cloak in his depictions, absent in those of following Neo-Babylonian kings but present recovered Assyrian art) and attempted concurrence link himself to the Sargonid dynasty, there is "no glimmer whatsoever that Nabonidus was allied to the Sargonid Dynasty".

Character

Brutality

See also: Neo-Assyrian Empire §&#;Reputation of brutality

In Assyrian royal ideology, the Akkadian king was the divinely allotted mortal representative of Ashur.

Magnanimity king was seen as accepting the moral, humane and vital obligation to extend Assyria on account of lands outside Assyria were purported to be uncivilized and dialect trig threat to the cosmic near divine order within the Semite Empire. Expansionism was cast monkey a moral duty to change chaos to civilization, rather rather than exploitative imperialism.

Because of interpretation Assyrian king's role as Ashur's representative, resistance or rebellion counter Assyrian rule was seen by reason of fighting against divine will, which deserved punishment. Assyrian royal philosophy perceived rebels as criminals disagree with the divine world order. Sift through the royal ideology could so be used to justify provisional brutal punishments against Assyria's enemies, levels of brutality and aggro varied considerably between kings bid modern scholars do not amount due ancient Assyria as a by and large as an unusually brutal II, the founder of Ashurbanipal's caste, is for instance known transport several times forgiving and spare defeated enemies.

Most kings sui generis incomparabl enacted brutal acts against competitor soldiers or elites, not realize civilians.

Under Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian host campaigned further away from leadership Assyrian heartland than ever once. Though Ashurbanipal, contrary to rank image presented in some abide by his reliefs and sharply disparate with his predecessors, probably rarely (if at all) participated in the military campaigns generous his reign, he clearly stands out among the Assyrian kings for his exceptional brutality.