List of Assyrian kings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King of Assyria |
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| Iššiʾak Aššur šar māt Aššur |
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Symbol of Ashur, the ancient Assyrian national deity
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,_c._645-635_BC,_British_Museum_(16722368932).jpg)
Relief depicting Ashurbanipal (r.669–631 BC) engaged in a lion hunt, a royal ritual meant to symbolically represent the Assyrian king's duty to bring order to the world
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| Details | |
| First monarch | Tudiya (legendary) Puzur-Ashur I (independent city-state) Ashur-uballit I (first to use 'king') |
| Last monarch | Ashur-uballit II |
| Formation | 21st century BC |
| Abolition | 609 BC |
The king of Assyria was the ruler of the ancient land of Assyria in Mesopotamia. This powerful kingdom began in the late 21st century BC and ended in the late 7th century BC. For a long time, Assyria was just a small city-state around the city of Assur. But from the 14th century BC, strong warrior kings helped Assyria grow. It became one of the biggest powers in the Ancient Near East. In its final centuries, it was the largest empire the world had ever seen.
The Assyrians believed their king was very special. They didn't think he was a god himself. Instead, they saw him as the chosen helper of their main god, Ashur. They believed Assyria was a place of order and peace. Lands not ruled by the Assyrian king were seen as chaotic. So, it was the king's job to expand Assyria's borders. This meant bringing order and civilization to lands they thought were wild. As Assyria grew, its kings used grander titles. Early kings were called "representative of Ashur." Later, from the time of Ashur-uballit I (14th century BC), they used the title "king." Over time, they added titles like "king of Sumer and Akkad" and "king of the Universe." These titles showed their control over all of Mesopotamia.
Modern lists of Assyrian kings come from the Assyrian King List. This list was created and updated by the ancient Assyrians themselves over hundreds of years. Some parts of the list might be made up. However, it matches well with other ancient king lists from the Hittites, Babylon, and ancient Egypt. It also matches what archaeologists have found. So, it's generally seen as a reliable record. The line of Assyrian kings ended when Ashur-uballit II, the last king, was defeated. This happened in 609 BC by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Median Empire. After this, Assyria was no longer an independent country. However, the Assyrian people survived and kept their culture.
Contents
Discovering the Kings of Assyria
How We Know About Them
Historians have found parts of the Assyrian King List in three main Assyrian cities. These were Assur, Dur-Sharrukin, and Nineveh. The lists are mostly the same. They were all copies of one original list. The list was created by recording the yearly appointments of officials called limmu. These officials were chosen by the king to lead the New Year festival. Because the lists are so similar and were made carefully, scholars believe the years mentioned for each king are mostly correct.
There are some small differences between the copies. For example, they show slightly different reign lengths for kings before Ashur-dan I (around 1178 BC). After his time, the lists are identical. The Assyrian King List generally agrees with other ancient king lists. It also matches what archaeologists have found. This makes it a trusted source for that time. However, it's clear that some parts of the list are not completely true. Some known kings are missing, and some listed kings haven't been proven by other records. The oldest surviving list stops at Tiglath-Pileser II (967–935 BC). The newest one stops at Shalmaneser V (727–722 BC).
One challenge with the Assyrian King List is that it might have been made for political reasons. It might not always be perfectly accurate about history. For example, during times of trouble, the list always shows a single line of kings. It probably ignored other people who tried to claim the throne. Also, there are some differences between the list and actual writings by Assyrian kings. These differences are often about family relationships. For instance, the list says Ashur-nirari II was the son of his predecessor. But other writings show he was actually the son of a different king.
What Were Their Titles?
Assyrian royal titles often followed old traditions. These traditions started with the Akkadian Empire (around 2334–2154 BC). This was an earlier civilization in Mesopotamia. When the central government fell, many new rulers didn't call themselves "king." Instead, they gave that title to their main gods. For Assyria, this god was Ashur. So, most early Assyrian kings used the title "governor of Assyria." This showed they were serving the god Ashur.
Unlike Babylonian kings, Assyrian kings focused on showing their strength. Their titles often talked about their power. They also emphasized their family tree. This was different from Babylonian titles. Assyrian titles also highlighted the king's good qualities. They didn't focus much on his role in the law system. Titles often mentioned "son of..." or "brother of...". Some kings even traced their family back over a thousand years. For example, Esarhaddon called himself a "descendant of the eternal seed of Bel-bani."
Assyrian kings changed their titles depending on where they were. A king might use different titles in Assyria than in a conquered land. When Neo-Assyrian kings ruled Babylon, they used a mix of titles. They combined Assyrian and Babylonian traditions. This helped them show their control over Babylon. Titles like "king of Sumer and Akkad" and "king of the Universe" helped them prove their rule. Kings like Esarhaddon used titles that showed they were chosen by both Assyrian and Babylonian gods. This made them seem like rightful rulers in both places.
Here is an example of a royal title from Esarhaddon's time:
The great king, the mighty king, king of the Universe, king of Assyria, viceroy of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, the great king, the mighty king, king of Assyria, grandson of Sargon, the great king, the mighty king, king of Assyria; who under the protection of Assur, Sin, Shamash, Nabu, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, Ishtar of Arbela, the great gods, his lords, made his way from the rising to the setting sun, having no rival.
The King's Important Role
Ancient Assyria was ruled by an absolute king. People believed the chief god, Ashur, chose the king directly. The Assyrians thought the king was the link between the gods and the human world. So, the king's main job was to find out what the gods wanted. He would then carry out their will, often by building temples or going to war. To help the king, there were priests at the royal court. They were trained to read and understand signs from the gods.
The Assyrians believed their homeland was a perfect place of order. But lands ruled by other powers were seen as full of chaos. The people in these "outer" lands were thought to be uncivilized. Because the king was connected to the gods, it was his duty to spread order. He did this by conquering these chaotic countries. So, expanding the empire wasn't just about gaining land. It was also about bringing divine order and creating civilization.
Many ancient writings show that the god Ashur told kings to expand Assyria's borders. A text from the time of Tukulti-Ninurta I (around 1243–1207 BC) says the king was told to "broaden the land of Ashur." A similar writing from Ashurbanipal's reign (668–631 BC) commanded the king to "extend the land at his feet."
The king also had to protect his people. He was often called a "shepherd." This protection included defending against enemies. It also meant protecting citizens from dangerous wild animals. To the Assyrians, the lion was the most dangerous animal. Lions were seen as symbols of chaos, like foreign powers. To prove they were good rulers and protectors, Assyrian kings took part in special lion hunts. Only royalty could hunt lions. These hunts were public events, held in parks near Assyrian cities. Sometimes, they even used captive lions in an arena.
How Kings Proved Their Right to Rule
Unlike some other ancient kingdoms, Assyrian kings were not thought to be gods. But they were believed to be chosen by the gods. They were seen as uniquely qualified for their royal duties. Most kings showed their right to rule through their family ties to previous kings. A king was legitimate if he was related to the line of great kings chosen by Ashur. Kings who took the throne without being related to the previous rulers often lied about their family. Or they claimed that Ashur had chosen them directly.
Two famous examples of such kings were Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BC) and Sargon II (722–705 BC). Their writings don't mention family connections to past kings. Instead, they stressed that Ashur himself had appointed them. They used phrases like "Ashur called my name" and "Ashur placed me on the throne."
Important Assyrian Kings
Early Rulers and Dynasties
The Assyrian King List includes many rulers from very early times. However, modern scholars believe some of these early parts might be made up. This is because their names aren't found in other records. Also, many of the very first names rhyme, which suggests they were invented. The earliest rulers are described as "kings who lived in tents." If they were real, they might have been nomadic tribal leaders, not rulers of the city of Assur.
The first truly independent rulers of Assyria belonged to the Puzur-Ashur dynasty. This dynasty began around 2025 BC with Puzur-Ashur I. These kings took power after the Neo-Sumerian Empire fell.
Later, the Shamshi-Adad dynasty took over. Shamshi-Adad I (around 1808–1776 BC) was an outsider. He brought a more absolute style of kingship to Assyria, inspired by Babylon. He was the first Assyrian king to use the title "king of the Universe."
After a period of non-dynastic rulers, the Adaside dynasty began around 1700 BC with Bel-bani. This dynasty ruled Assyria for most of its history. It included many famous kings who expanded Assyria's power.
Kings of the Middle Assyrian Empire (1363–912 BC)
This period saw Assyria grow into a major power. Kings like Ashur-uballit I (1363–1328 BC) were important. He was the first to use the title "king of Assyria." Other notable kings include Adad-nirari I and Shalmaneser I. Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243–1207 BC) was a powerful king who conquered Babylon. After his reign, Assyria faced some decline.
Kings of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (911–609 BC)
This was the time when Assyria became the largest empire the world had seen.
- Ashurnasirpal II (884–859 BC): He moved the capital to Nimrud. He led campaigns all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. He was also the first Assyrian king to use many stone carvings (reliefs) to show his power.
- Shalmaneser III (859–824 BC): He restored Assyria's old borders. He also faced some challenges, including a civil war.
- Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BC): He was a very important king. He revitalized the Assyrian Empire and made it the strongest power in the Near East. He conquered Babylon and made many changes to the empire's organization.
- Sargon II (722–705 BC): He took the throne in a palace coup. He moved the capital to Dur-Sharrukin. He was killed in battle.
- Sennacherib (705–681 BC): He moved the capital to Nineveh. He was murdered by his own son.
- Esarhaddon (681–669 BC): He had to fight a civil war to become king. He brought Assyria to its largest size ever. He was often sick but was a very strong ruler.
- Ashurbanipal (669–631 BC): He is considered the last great Assyrian king. He was known for his library and for strengthening control over Babylon after a civil war with his brother. His fate is not fully known, but he likely died naturally.
- Sîn-šar-iškun (627–612 BC): He was the king when the Assyrian Empire began to fall. He was killed when Nineveh was captured by the Babylonians and Medes.
- Ashur-uballit II (612–609 BC): He was the last king of Assyria. He tried to resist the Babylonians and Medes at Harran but was defeated. After this, the ancient Assyrian monarchy ended.
After the Empire Fell
Assyria's Later History
The defeat of Ashur-uballit II in 609 BC marked the end of the ancient Assyrian kingdom. It was never restored. The land of Assyria was divided between the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Median Empire. The Assyrian people survived, but their homeland became less populated.
Later, under the Seleucid Empire and Parthian Empire, Assyria saw a remarkable recovery. In the last two centuries of Parthian rule, the region had many settlements. This was similar to how it was during the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
A semi-independent city-state formed around Assur, Assyria's oldest capital. This happened around the end of the 2nd century BC. The ancient city thrived. Old buildings were repaired, and new ones, like a palace, were built. The ancient temple to the god Ashur was also restored. The local rulers of Assur during this time used the title "master of Assur." They seemed to see themselves as continuing the old Assyrian royal tradition. These rulers put up stone carvings (stelae) that looked like those of the ancient Assyrian kings. They showed the ruler honoring the moon and sun, just like in old times. This period of Assyrian cultural growth ended around 240 AD. This was when the Sasanian Empire conquered the region. The Ashur temple was destroyed again, and the city's people were scattered.
Images for kids
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Naram-Sin
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Sîn-šumu-līšir
See also
- List of kings of Babylon – for the Babylonian kings
- List of Mesopotamian dynasties – for other dynasties and kingdoms in ancient Mesopotamia
- List of kings of Syria – the Seleucids who became kings of Syria
