Assarhaddon

Assarhaddon was king of Assyrie of 680 with 669. Its name, Assur-aha-iddina , mean " Assur gave a frère".

Difficult beginnings

Assarhaddon is the son of the king Sennacherib, and his wife Zakutu. It is undoubtedly the latter which is able to make it designate as its successor by his father in 683, whereas this one had already others older wire. Probably ridges some with the hostility of his/her brothers, it is sent in residence in the west of the kingdom. Arad-Mulissu, the former heir apparent, revolts shortly after against his/her father Sennacherib, whom he assassinates with the assistance of others of his brothers. Assarhaddon must thus overcome them to go up on the throne. It is what it does rather quickly, most of the kingdom having obviously refused to follow his/her rebellious brothers, who exile themselves in the small kingdom of Shubria.

A souffreteux sovereign

Assarhaddon is a person with fragile health, frequently victim of crises which plunge it in a depressive state. Undoubtedly very apprehensive as for its future, it is shown very anxious to know its future and the risks which plane on him and its kingdom. So it grants a very great place to its soothsayers and astrologers. It in particular often has recourse to the exceptional measure of the royal substitute, fearing for its life.

Work political and military

He does not remain less one intelligent sovereign and is about it great political and military successes, worthy of those of his elder. He succeeds in alleviating the situation with Babylon ransacked by his father (sacrilege whom he perceives like the reason of the sad end of this last), by restoring the city and while returning to him the statue of his god Mardouk, off-set by Sennacherib in Assyrie. If it must still carry out some engagements in the area, it succeeds in making Urtaki, the king of Élam, a faithful ally. In Phénicie, it invades Sidon, and subjects Tyr. It carries out several forwardings towards the north and the North-East of its country, and one of its campaigns in Iran reaches Patusharri, which one locates around the mount Bikni. But, under the threat of the Cimmériens and the Scythian , it must move back in this area, while trying a bringing together with the seconds by marrying one as of his/her daughters to their king Bartatua. The largest its reign campaign remains however that carried out in Egypt, in reprisals with supports brought by Taharqa to revolts in Palestine. In 671, its troops take Memphis and plunder it. At once that it leaves this country, Taharqa takes again the capacity, which requires a new intervention in 669. But this one will not take place, Assarhaddon dying on the way of Egypt.

Succession

To avoid with its sons the troubles which he knew at the beginning of his reign, Assarhaddon reflected its succession, undoubtedly with the assistance of his/her Zakutu mother, who played a great part all along her reign (since she survived to him). Its first choice, Sin-nadin-apli, died before his/her father, who to indicate another of his sons like successor. He indicated Assurbanipal like future king of Assyrie, and made the choice place another of his sons, Shamash-shum-ukin, elder of Assurbanipal, on the throne of Babylon, while specifying that he would owe allegiance with his junior. The purpose of this choice was undoubtedly to maintain the calm one in Babylonia. Assarhaddon made swear on its subjects to respect its choice, and after her death his/her mother made renew this oath, and the succession occurred without clashes.

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