Ashur-uballit II facts for kids

Aššur-uballiṭ II, also spelled Assur-uballit II and Ashuruballit II (Neo-Assyrian Akkadian: 𒀸𒋩𒌑𒋾𒆷, romanized: Aššur-uballiṭ, meaning "Ashur has kept alive"), was the very last ruler of Assyria. He became king after his predecessor Sîn-šar-iškun died during the Fall of Nineveh in 612 BC. Aššur-uballiṭ II ruled from the city of Harran until his own defeat there in 609 BC.

He might have been the son of Sîn-šar-iškun. It's also likely he was the same crown prince (a prince who is next in line for the throne) mentioned in old writings from Nineveh in 626 and 623 BC.

During Sîn-šar-iškun's rule, the Neo-Assyrian Empire became very weak. A rebellion from 626–620 BC caused Assyria to lose its southern lands to the new Neo-Babylonian Empire. A war against the Babylonian king Nabopolassar and the Medes was terrible for Assyria. Important cities like Assur and Nineveh were attacked and destroyed in 614 BC and 612 BC.

After these cities fell and Sîn-šar-iškun died, Aššur-uballiṭ II gathered the remaining Assyrian army in Harran. He formed an alliance with Egypt and ruled for three years. Babylonian records called him "king of Assyria." However, Assyrian writings suggest he was still called "crown prince." This was because he couldn't have the traditional coronation ceremony in Assur. This ceremony was needed to be formally made king by the chief Assyrian god, Ashur. His rule in Harran ended when Medo-Babylonian forces captured the city in 610 BC. Aššur-uballiṭ's attempt to take it back in 609 BC failed. After this, he is no longer mentioned in historical records, marking the end of the ancient Assyrian kingdom.

The Fall of Assyria

At the start of the 7th century BC, Assyria was very powerful. It controlled much of the Fertile Crescent, a rich area in the Middle East. Trade and culture were thriving, a time sometimes called the Pax Assyriaca (meaning "Assyrian Peace"). But by the end of the same century, Assyria had fallen and disappeared from history.

One big reason for its fall was Assyria's trouble with its southern lands, especially the old city of Babylon. There were often rebellions there. These revolts became worse during the rule of Sîn-šar-iškun (627–612 BC). He became king in 627 BC after his brother died. Almost immediately, a general named Sîn-šumu-līšir rebelled in 626 BC. He took over some cities in northern Babylonia, including Babylon. Even though Sîn-šumu-līšir was defeated quickly, his revolt weakened Assyria's control.

Right after this, another rebellion started in Babylonia. This one was led by Nabopolassar, who captured Babylon and Nippur. Sîn-šar-iškun tried to get these cities back but failed. On November 22/23, 626 BC, Nabopolassar was officially crowned king of Babylon. This began the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Sîn-šar-iškun tried to win back cities in northern Babylonia in 625–624 BC but was pushed back many times. By 622 BC, Nabopolassar had taken all Assyrian outposts in Babylonia.

The Babylonians kept winning against the Assyrians. By 616 BC, Babylonian troops had reached far north. Assyria's ally, Pharaoh Psamtik I of Egypt, helped Sîn-šar-iškun. Egypt saw Assyria as a useful barrier against the Babylonians and Medes. But a joint Egyptian-Assyrian attack into Babylonia failed. In 614 BC, the city of Assur, once Assyria's capital and religious heart, was captured and looted by the Medes. The Medes were allies of Nabopolassar. Two years later, the Assyrian capital, Nineveh, also fell. It is believed that Sîn-šar-iškun died defending Nineveh in 612 BC.

Aššur-uballiṭ's past is not fully clear. We know he was an Assyrian general. He might have been the son of Sîn-šar-iškun. He was likely the unnamed crown prince mentioned in writings from Nineveh in 626 and 623 BC. Sîn-šar-iškun probably named a crown prince early in his rule to avoid problems with who would be king next.

Aššur-uballiṭ's Rule

Ruling from Harran

In Assyrian tradition, the king was chosen by the Assyrian god, Ashur. This happened during the New Year festivals in Assur. The last king crowned there was Sîn-šar-iškun. After Assur was destroyed in 614 BC, the traditional ceremony was impossible. This ceremony showed that the god Ashur gave the king his power.

Aššur-uballiṭ did have a coronation ceremony in late 612 BC. But instead of Assur, it was held in Harran. This was in the temple of the moon god Sin, another important god. In Harran, the Assyrian Empire continued under Aššur-uballiṭ. Babylonian records called him the "king of Assyria." But his own people likely still called him "crown prince." This is because he hadn't completed the full, traditional ceremony.

Aššur-uballiṭ's official title was "crown prince" (mar šarri, meaning "son of the king"). This can be seen in old legal papers. For example, a document from the city Dur-Katlimmu mentions the "covenant of the crown prince." Usually, these documents would say "covenant of the king." This shows that the king's position was empty, and the crown prince was filling that role.

The name Aššur-uballiṭ likely had a special meaning. It means "Ashur has kept alive." This suggests that Assyria's main god and its empire would win against their enemies. It also connected him to an earlier Assyrian king, Aššur-uballiṭ I, from the 14th century BC. That earlier king was the first to call himself "king" instead of just "governor."

The Fall of Harran

When Aššur-uballiṭ became ruler in 612 BC, his main goal was to take back the Assyrian homeland. This included Assur and Nineveh. He had strong allies in Egypt and Mannea. So, he probably thought this goal was possible. His rule in Harran, as crown prince, seemed like a temporary step back. But instead, Aššur-uballiṭ's time in Harran became the final years of the Assyrian Empire.

In 611 BC, Nabopolassar's army took control of northern Mesopotamia. They reached the border of Harran. In November 610 BC, the Medo-Babylonian army attacked Harran. Aššur-uballiṭ and some Egyptian soldiers fled the city into the Syrian deserts. The siege of Harran lasted from late 610 BC to early 609 BC. The city eventually surrendered. Aššur-uballiṭ's failure at Harran marked the end of the ancient Assyrian kingdom. It was never restored.

After the Babylonians held Harran for three months, Aššur-uballiṭ and a large Egyptian force tried to take the city back. But this attack failed badly. His siege lasted for two months, from July or June 609 BC until August or September. He and the Egyptians retreated when Nabopolassar brought his army against them again.

What Happened to Aššur-uballiṭ?

We don't know what happened to Aššur-uballiṭ. His attack on Harran in 609 BC is the last time he, or the Assyrians, are mentioned in Babylonian records. After the battle at Harran, Nabopolassar continued his fight against the remaining Assyrian army in early 608 or 607 BC.

It's thought that Aššur-uballiṭ was still alive then. In 608 BC, the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II, Psamtik I's successor, led a large Egyptian army into former Assyrian lands. He wanted to help his ally and change the course of the war. But there's no record of a big battle between the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Medes in 608 BC. It's unlikely such a huge battle would be forgotten. So, it's possible Aššur-uballiṭ died sometime in 608 BC before his allies and enemies could fight.

Even though Aššur-uballiṭ isn't mentioned after 609 BC, Egyptian armies kept fighting in the Levant. They faced a major defeat at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. For the next century, Egypt and Babylon, now neighbors because Assyria had fallen, often fought over control of the Fertile Crescent.

See also

• Sargonid dynasty
• List of Assyrian kings
• Military history of the Neo-Assyrian Empire