The list of Assyrian kings is compiled from the Assyrian King List, an ancient kingdom in northern Mesopotamia (modern northern Iraq) with information added from recent archaeological findings. The Assyrian King List includes regnal lengths that appear to have been based on now lost limmu lists (which list the names of eponymous officials for each year). These regnal lengths accord well with Hittite, Babylonian and ancient Egyptian king lists and with the archaeological record, and are considered reliable for the age.[1] [edit] The Assyrian King List The Assyrian King List is not merely a list of kings of Assyria, but is a very specific document recorded in several ancient locations, related to the ancient Sumerian King List, and sometimes considered a continuation of it. There are three extant versions of the King List, and two fragments. They date to the early first millennium BC—the oldest, List A, stopping at Tiglath-Pileser II (ca. 967–935 BC) and the youngest, List C, at Shalmaneser V (727–722 BC). Assyriologists believe the list was originally compiled to link Shamshi-Adad I (fl. ca. 1700 BC (short)), an Amorite who had conquered Assur, to the native rulers of the land of Assur. Scribes then copied the List and added to it over time.[2] [edit] List of Kings [edit] Early Period Little is known of the earliest kings listed on the King List, other than a few recorded contacts with other kingdoms. No regnal lengths are given for kings before Erishum I. [edit] Kings who Lived in Tents This section shows marked similarities to the ancestors of the first Babylonian dynasty.[2] | | | "altogether 17 kings, tent dwellers."[4][5] |
| [edit] Kings whose Fathers are Known These list the ancestors of Shamshi-Adad I.[2] | | | "altogether 10 kings whose fathers are (known)."[4][6] |
| [edit] Kings whose Eponyms are not Known These are early rulers of Assur.[2] | | | "altogether 6 kings (whose names were written on?) bricks whose eponyms are (not known?)."[4][7] |
| [edit] Old Assyrian Period Damage to the tablets in all three extant King Lists before Enlil-nasir II (ca. 1420–1415 BC (short)) prevents the calculation of approximate regnal dates from Erishum I to this point. Additionally, three kings attested elsewhere from this period are not included in the standard King List. The remainder of the King List then has an unbroken chain of regnal lengths from Enlil-nasir II on. Disparities between the different versions of the King List for the reigns of Ashur-nadin-apli (ca. 1196–1194 BC (short)) and Ninurta-apal-Ekur (ca. 1182–1180 BC (short)) contribute to the debate over the chronology of the ancient Near East.[2][8] | Old Assyrian Period | | King name | Reigned[9][10] | Notes[9][10] | | Erishum I | fl. ca. 1800 BC (short)
(30 or 40 years) | "son of Ilu-shuma"; contemporary of Samu-la-El of Babylonia; said to have built the temple of Ashur | | Ikunum | (damaged text) | "son of Ilushuma" | | Sargon I | (damaged text) | "son of Ikunum" | | Puzur-Ashur II | (damaged text) | "son of Sargon (I)" | | Naram-Suen | (damaged text) | "son of Puzur-Ashur (II)" | | Erishum II | (damaged text) | "son of Naram-Suen" | | Shamshi-Adad I | fl. ca. 1700 BC (short)
(33 years) | "son of (local ruler) Ila-kabkabu, went to Karduniash in the time of Naram-Suen. In the eponymy of Ibni-Adad, Shamshi-Adad went up from Karduniash. He took Ekallatum, where he stayed three years. In the eponymy of Atamar-Ishtar, Shamshi-Adad went up from Ekallatum. He ousted Erishum (II), son of Naram-Suen, from the throne and took it."; He was in turn conquered by Hammurabi of Babylon. | | Ishme-Dagan I | (40 years) | "son of Shamshi-Adad (I)" | | Mut-Ashkur | (unknown) | son of Ishme-Dagan I, married to a Hurrian queen; not included in the standard King List, but attested elswhere[11] | | Remu... | (unknown) | included in the alternative King List fragment, last part of name lost; not included in the standard King List[11] | | Asinum | (unknown) | grandson of Shamshi-Adad I, driven out by vice-regent Puzur-Suen because he was of foreign extraction; not included in the standard King List, but attested in Puzur-Suen's inscription[11] | | Seven usurpers: | (6 years) | "Ashur-dugul, son of a nobody, who had no title to the throne, ruled for 6 years, then dies an killed himself for being assyrian. In the time of Ashur-dugul, son of a nobody, Ashur-apla-idi, Nasir-Suen, Suen-namir, Ipqi-Ishtar, Adad-salulu, and Adasi, six sons of nobodies, ruled at the beginning of his brief reign." Adasi founded the dynasty that would ultimately claim legitimate rule in Assyria from this point on. | | Bel-bani | (10 years) | "son of Adasi" | | Libaya | (17 years) | "son of Bel-bani" | | Sharma-Adad I | (12 years) | "son of Libaya" | | Iptar-Suen | (12 years) | "son of Sharma-Adad (I)" | | Bazaya | (28 years) | "son of Iptar-Suen" | | Lullaya | (6 years) | "son of a nobody" | | Shu-Ninua | (14 years) | "son of Bazaya" | | Sharma-Adad II | (3 years) | "son of Shu-Ninua" | | Erishum III | (13 years) | "son of Shu-Ninua" | | Shamshi-Adad II | (6 years) | "son of Erishum (III)" | | Ishme-Dagan II | (16 years) | "son of Shamshi-Adad (II)" | | Shamshi-Adad III | (16 years) | " son of (another) Ishme-Dagan, brother of Sharma-Adad (II), son of Shu-Ninua" | | Ashur-nirari I | (26 years) | "son of Ishme-Dagan" | | Puzur-Ashur III | (24 or 14 years) | "son of Ashur-nirari (I)"; contemporary of Burna-Buriash I of Babylonia[3] | | Enlil-nasir I | (13 years) | "son of Puzur-Ashur (III)" | | Nur-ili | (12 years) | "son Enlil-nasir (I)" | | Ashur-shaduni | (1 month) | "son of Nur-ili" | | Ashur-rabi I | (damaged text) | "son of Enlil-nasir (I), ousted him (Ashur-shaduni), (and) seized the throne" | | Ashur-nadin-ahhe I | (damaged text) | "son of Ashur-rabi (I)" | | Enlil-nasir II | ca. 1420–1415 BC (short) | "his (Ashur-nadin-ahhe I's) brother, ousted him" | | Ashur-nirari II | ca. 1414–1408 BC (short) | "son of Enlil-nasir (II)" | | Ashur-bel-nisheshu | ca. 1407–1399 BC (short) | "son of Ashur-nirari (II)" | | Ashur-rim-nisheshu | ca. 1398–1391 BC (short) | "son of Ashur-bel-nisheshu" | | Ashur-nadin-ahhe II | ca. 1390–1381 BC (short) | "son of Ashur-rim-nisheshu" | [edit] Middle Assyrian Period The dates up to Ninurta-apal-Ekur (ca. 1182–1180 BC) are subject to debate, as some of the regnal lengths vary over the different versions of the King List. The dates given below are based on Assyrian King Lists B and C, which give only three years to Ashur-nadin-apli, and the same to Ninurta-apal-Ekur. (Assyrian King List A gives four years to Ashur-nadin-apli and 13 years to Ninurta-apal-Ekur.[12]) This timeframe is also subject to the overall debate about the chronology of the ancient Near East; the short (or low) chronology is used here. Dates from 1179 to 912 BC, although less secure than dates from 911 BC onwards, are not subject to the chronology debate.[3]
| Middle Assyrian Period | | King name | Reigned[13][14][15] | Notes[9][10] | | Eriba-Adad I | ca. 1380–1353 BC (short) | "son of Ashur-bel-nisheshu" | | Ashur-uballit I | ca. 1353–1318 BC (short) | "son of Eriba-Adad (I)" | | Enlil-nirari | ca. 1317–1308 BC (short) | "son of Ashur-uballit" | | Arik-den-ili | ca. 1307–1296 BC (short) | "son of Enlil-nirari" | | Adad-nirari I | ca. 1295–1264 BC (short) | "son of Arik-den-ili" | | Shalmaneser I | ca. 1263–1234 BC (short) | "son of Adad-nirari (I)" | | Tukulti-Ninurta I | ca. 1233–1197 BC (short) | "son of Shalmaneser (I)" | | Ashur-nadin-apli | ca. 1196–1194 BC (short) | "during the lifetime of Tukulti-ninurta (I), Ashur-nadin-apli, his son, seized the throne" | | Ashur-nirari III | ca. 1193–1188 BC (short) | "son of Ashur-nadin-apli" | | Enlil-kudurri-usur | ca. 1187–1183 BC (short) | "son of Tukulti-Ninurta (I)" | | Ninurta-apal-Ekur | ca. 1182–1180 BC (short) | "son of Ila-Hadda, a descendant of Eriba-Adad (I), went to Karduniash. He came up from Karduniash (and) seized the throne." | | Beginning with Ashur-Dan I, dates are consistent and not subject to middle/short chronology distinctions. | | Ashur-Dan I | ca. 1179–1133 BC | "son of Ashur-nadin-apli" | | Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur | ca. 1133 BC | "son of Ashur-dan (I), briefly" | | Mutakkil-nusku | ca. 1133 BC | "his (Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur's) brother, fought him and took him to Karduniash. Mutakkil-Nusku held the throne briefly, then died." | | Ashur-resh-ishi I | ca. 1133–1115 BC | "son of Mutakkil-Nusku" | | Tiglath-Pileser I | ca. 1115–1076 BC | "son of Ashur-resh-ishi (I)" | | Asharid-apal-Ekur | ca. 1076–1074 BC | "son of Tiglath-pileser (I)" | | Ashur-bel-kala | ca. 1074–1056 BC | "son of Tiglath-pileser (I)" | | Eriba-Adad II | ca. 1056–1054 BC | "son of Ashur-bel-kala" | | Shamshi-Adad IV | ca. 1054–1050 BC | "son of Tiglath-pileser (I), came up from Karduniash. He ousted Eriba-Adad (II), son of Ashur-bel-kala, (and) seized the throne" | | Ashur-nasir-pal I | ca. 1050–1031 BC | "son of Shamshi-Adad (IV)" | | Shalmaneser II | ca. 1031–1019 BC | "son of Ashur-nasir-pal (I)" | | Ashur-nirari IV | ca. 1019–1013 BC | "son of Shalmaneser (II)" | | Ashur-rabi II | ca. 1013–972 BC | "son of Ashur-nasir-pal (I)" | | Ashur-resh-ishi II | ca. 972–967 BC | "son of Ashur-rabi (II)" | | Tiglath-Pileser II | ca. 967–935 BC | "son of Ashur-resh-ishi (II)" | | Ashur-Dan II | ca. 935–912 BC | "son of Tiglath-Pileser (II)" | [edit] Neo-Assyrian Period Synchronisms between the limmu lists and absolute dates known from Babylonian chronology provide good absolute dates for the years between 911 BC and 649 BC. The dates for the very end of the Assyrian period are uncertain due to the lack of limmu lists after 649 BC. Some sources list Ashurbanipal's death in 631 BC, rather than 627 BC; Ashur-etil-ilani then reigns from 631 to 627, and Sin-shar-ishkun reigns until 612 BC, when he is known to have died in the sack of Nineveh.[3] [edit] See also - ^ Rowton, M.B. (1970). The Cambridge Ancient History. 1.1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 194–195. ISBN 0521070511. http://books.google.com/books?id=7SOL7ypj7bAC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA194,M1.
- ^ a b c d e Meissner, Bruno (1990). Reallexikon der Assyriologie. 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 101–102. ISBN 3110100517. http://books.google.com/books?id=OIeiZaIo91IC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA101,M1.
- ^ a b c d e Rowton, M.B. (1970). The Cambridge Ancient History. 1.1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 202–204. ISBN 0521070511. http://books.google.com/books?id=7SOL7ypj7bAC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA202,M1.
- ^ a b c Glassner, Jean-Jacques (2004). Mesopotamian Chronicles. Society of Biblical Literature. pp. 137. ISBN 1589830903. http://books.google.com/books?id=1i5b6STWnroC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA137,M1.
- ^ Meissner, Bruno (1990). Reallexikon der Assyriologie. 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 103. ISBN 3110100517. http://books.google.com/books?id=OIeiZaIo91IC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA103,M1.
- ^ Meissner, Bruno (1990). Reallexikon der Assyriologie. 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 104. ISBN 3110100517. http://books.google.com/books?id=OIeiZaIo91IC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA104,M1.
- ^ Meissner, Bruno (1990). Reallexikon der Assyriologie. 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 105. ISBN 3110100517. http://books.google.com/books?id=OIeiZaIo91IC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA105,M1.
- ^ Rowton, M.B. (1970). The Cambridge Ancient History. 1.1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 195. ISBN 0521070511. http://books.google.com/books?id=7SOL7ypj7bAC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA195,M1.
- ^ a b c d Glassner, Jean-Jacques (2004). Mesopotamian Chronicles. Society of Biblical Literature. pp. 136–144. ISBN 1589830903. http://books.google.com/books?id=1i5b6STWnroC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA136,M1.
- ^ a b c d Lendering, Jona (31 March 2006). "Assyrian King List". http://www.livius.org/k/kinglist/assyrian.html. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ a b c Glassner, Jean-Jacques (2004). Mesopotamian Chronicles. Society of Biblical Literature. pp. 88. ISBN 1589830903. http://books.google.com/books?id=1i5b6STWnroC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA88,M1.
- ^ For variants, see footnotes 49–56 in Glassner, Jean-Jacques (2004). Mesopotamian Chronicles. Society of Biblical Literature. pp. 155. ISBN 1589830903. http://books.google.com/books?id=1i5b6STWnroC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA155,M1.
- ^ Comments on the Nassouhi Kinglist and the Assyrian Kinglist Tradition, J.A. Brinkman, Orientalia N.S 42, 1973
- ^ Assyrian Rulers of the Third and Second Millennia BC, A.K. Grayson, University of Toronto Press, 1987, ISBN 0802026052
- ^ The Chronology of Ancient Assyria Re-assessed, B. Newgrosh, JACF, vol. 08, pp. 78-106, 1999
- ^ Landscape and Settlement in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, T. J. Wilkinson, E. B. Wilkinson, J. Ur, M. Altaweel, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Nov 2005
- ^ [1] Neo-Assyrian Eponym List—Livius.org
- ^ [2] Empires and Exploitation: The Neo-Assyrian Empire, P Bedford, WA Perth, 2001
[edit] References - Ascalone, Enrico (2007). Mesopotamia: Assyrians, Sumerians, Babylonians (Dictionaries of Civilizations; 1). Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0520252667.
- Grayson, Albert Kirk (1975). Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles. Locust Valley, N.Y..
- Healy, Mark (1992). The Ancient Assyrians. ISBN 978-1-85532-163-2.
- Leick, Gwendolyn (2003). Mesopotamia. ISBN 0140265740.
- Lloyd, Seton (1984). The Archaeology of Mesopotamia: From the Old Stone Age to the Persian Conquest. ISBN 0500790094.
- Nardon, Don (1998). Assyrian Empire. ISBN 1560063130.
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