Assur-uballit Ier

King of Assyrie (1366-1330). Its name, Aššur uballiṭ , means " Assur made vivre". Its reign constitutes a turning in the history of Assur, which becomes under its reign a major political actor, whereas before it had only one very low importance. It can thus be regarded as the founder of the Assyrian power.

Emancipation of Assur

Since at least the medium of XVè century, Assur was subjected to the kingdom of the Mitanni. About 1370-65, the king of this country, Tushratta, undergoes several defeats vis-a-vis the Hittites of Suppiluliuma Ier, and following that a palace revolution leads to its assassination and dynastic disorders weakening even more Mitanni. Benefitting from that, Assur-uballit returns its independence in Assur.

City-state with the kingdom

Simple city-state before, Assur becomes under the reign of Assur-uballit a true kingdom. Giving up the traditional title of kings d' Assur, " prince" ( rubū ), it names from now on " roi" ( šarru ). The first conquests have as a framework the agricultural rich person area located at the north of Assur, around the city hourrite of Ninive. The Assyrians then put the hand on important trade route. Far from stopping there, Assur-uballit throws its reserved on Mitanni, which is then divided between two applicants, Shattiwazza, supported by Hittites, and Shaushtatar, which Assur-uballit supports. Following several combat, which last all along the reign of Assur-uballit, Mitanni is finally divided into two units: under control of Hittites, the other under that of the Assyrians. In this business, the Assyrian king showed that its kingdom was a power on which it was necessary to count.

Assyrie in the international concert

As of its first successes, Assur-uballit intends to be made regard as one of the " Large rois" dominant the political scene of the Middle East, as well as those of the Hittites, of Babylon and Egypt, in the place of the Mitanni which lost its row of great power. Two letters which it sent to the Pharaon Akhénaton were found with el-Amarna. The Assyrian king takes the initiative to establish a contact with this large king, affirming himself like his equal. This displeases to the Babylonian king Burna-Buriash II, which is regarded as the suzerain of Assyrie, before going obviously (just like Akhenaton) and treating on an equal footing with Assur-uballit, of which he marries the girl.

Businesses of Babylonia

Union of Burna-Buriash with the girl of Assur-uballit is born a son, Karahardash, which succeeds his/her father in 1347. This event is obviously perceived like a means making it possible Assur-uballit to extend its influence to Babylon by the means of its grandson, and part of the nobility kassite revolts and assassinates the new king. It is the first act of the conflict pluriséculaire which opposes Assyrie to Babylon. In reprisals, Assur-uballit invades Babylonia, deposits the new king Nazilbugash, and replaces it by a new sovereign who is favorable for him, Kurigalzu II.

After a long reign during which it will have known as well used of the average soldiers like diplomatic doing of Assur one of the political great powers of its time, Assur-uballit dies out in 1330, and his/her son Enlil-nerari succeeds to him.

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