Samsi-Addu

Samsi-Addu (form akkadienne: Shamshi-Adad ), king of Ekallatum, founder of the Kingdom of High-Mésopotamie (C. 1815-1775 av. J. - C.). Its name means " Addu (the god of the Storm) is my soleil".

Wire of Ila-Kabkabu, it is originating in a Dynastie amorrite, related with that of Babylon, which explains why these two families always remained allied. He is perhaps brother of Aminum.

The beginning of its reign is difficult: it east demolishes by Naram-Sin d' Eshnunna which drives out it of Ekallatum and forces it to take refuge in Babylon, in the king Sîn-Muballit. With died from Naram-Sin about 1810, Eshnunna is withdrawn and Samsi-Addu can go up on the throne of Ekallatum. He consequently undertakes a series of conquests which enable him little by little to dominate the Triangle of the Khabur. He seizes in particular the town of Assur, of which he proclaims king. He makes write an Assyrian dynastic list in which he includes his own ancestors in the list of kings d' Assur to legitimate his usurpation, with the result that he was regarded wrongly as an Assyrian king, which it forever be. After some vexations, Samsi-Addu succeeds in taking the town of Mari in 1794. It thus makes sure the domination of all the Highone: its kingdom is of this fact called by the historians Royaume of High-Mésopotamie.

For better controlling its kingdom, which is vastest of its time, it is established in the town of Shekhna, which it re-elects Shubat-Enlil, and places its two sons Ishme-Dagan and Yasmah-Addu on the throne of Ekallatum and Husband. As from this moment, Samsi-Addu chooses to stabilize its kingdom: it is combined with Ishkhi-Addu Qatna vis-a-vis its large enemy, Sumu-epukh of Alep, and also with Dadusha of Eshnunna. Its kingdom weakens little by little after 1780, in particular under the effect of revolts of the former kings driven out by Samsi-Addu and supported by king d' Alep, but also after a fatal epidemic which strikes the country of Husband. Samsi-Addu dies in 1775, and its kingdom crumbles then with him: Yasmah-Addu disappears when Zimri-Lim seizes Husband, and only Ishme-Dagan succeeds in being maintained with difficulty on the throne of Ekallatum.

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