Tiglathpalasar I

The situation in Asia Minor

By the time of accession to the throne of Tiglathpalasar I in Asia Minor, the situation was extremely politically favorable for Assyria. The Hittite kingdom fell, Egypt was in decline, Babylonia was invaded by the southern Aramaic nomads , the Chaldeans . In this political environment, Assyria remained virtually the only great power.

However, the peoples that appeared in Asia Minor as a result of ethnic movements of the late II millennium BC. e. - flies , Phrygians , Apeschlays (possibly Abkhazians ), Arameans, Chaldeans and others - were numerous and warlike and more than once invaded the territory of Assyria. However, Tiglathpalasar I, being, apparently, a good commander, very quickly managed to move on to offensive operations.

First trip

At the beginning of the reign of Tiglathpalasar I, five kings of flies led by a twenty-thousandth army (a fairly large figure for those times), crossing the Upper Tiger invaded the Kadmuh region, creating a serious threat to the security of Assyria. Tiglathpalasar was able to defeat them, and 6,000 flies surrendered and were "ranked among the people of Assyria" (that is, settled on Assyrian land).

After defeating the flies, Tiglatpalasar I opposed Kadmuhe, who delayed the payment of tribute and conquered this country. The Kadmukhians fled to Sheres, on the other side of the Tigris River, and made this city their support. The Assyrians crossed the river and captured the city of Shereshe, and in the battle that took place they defeated the allied army of Kadmukh and the Pabhians, who rushed to help Kadmukh. The king Kadmuha Irrupa ( in Hurrian his name is Kili-Teshub), the son of Kali-Teshub, his sons, wives and other relatives were taken prisoner. The winner went to copper vessels, silver, gold as prey. The city and the palace were burned.

The Annals of Tiglathpalasar I narrate that the Assyrian army , continuing to move across the territory beyond the Tigris, entered the country of King Shadi Teshub (or Shadianther), the son of Hattuha, and without encountering resistance approached Urahishash, a fortified city on Mount Panaru. Shadi Teshub obeyed the Assyrians voluntarily and the Assyrian king as hostages took his sons and his family to Ashur . Copper vessels, 120 slaves, and cattle were left from prey. Shadi Teshub was paid tribute. Then Tiglathpalasar conquered the country of Ishdish.

Second Campaign

Developing success, Tiglathpalasar I in the 2nd year of his reign (around 1114 BC ) with his army advanced even further north-west in the areas of Alzi and Purulumzi, which, despite their partial settlement with oriental flies, continued still considered “Shubarean,” that is, Hurrian.

In this campaign, the Assyrian army met another newcomer group of tribes. These were the Apeschlists (perhaps Abkhazians ) and the Urumans (nothing is known about their origin). In the Annals of Tiglathpalasar I, it is reported that the Apeschlaites and the Urumans were “rebellious people of the Hittite country” (that is, they came from behind the Euphrates ) and put 4000 soldiers and 120 battle chariots against him, but then obeyed him and were “ranked among the people Assyria. " Meanwhile, in the rear near Tiglathpalasar, the Kadmuhe region revolted. Perhaps the eastern flies suited her more than the Assyrians. Tiglathpalasar was forced to return to pacify her.

Third Campaign

In his 3rd year of rule (around 1113 BC ), Tiglathpalasar I undertook his third campaign. On Mount Azu, he defeated the army of the country of Charia, supported by the Pabhians, and conquered 25 settlements of the country of Charia, putting them to fire. The country of Adaush surrendered without a fight. Then the Assyrians defeated the inhabitants of the countries of Siraush and Ammaush on Mount Arum and conquered these countries. After that, the countries of Isua (Ishua Assyr, Ishuva Hettsk, Tsupani Urartsk. On the left bank of the Euphrates, in the area where the Aratsani River flows into it) and Daria were conquered. Tiglathpalasar paid tribute to them.

Then the Assyrians in the same year launched an offensive to the headwaters of Big Zab and conquered the countries of Murattash and Saradaush. After that, a campaign was undertaken on the Khabhi country of Sugi. The Allies - the countries of Hime, Luhi (the same as Luha), Arirgi, Alamun (the same as Elamuni in the upper reaches of the Great Zab), Tumni and a large tribe of Pabhians, sent their troops to help Suga. In a battle on Mount Hirihu, Tiglathpalasar I defeated the six thousandth army of Suga and her allies, and “subdued the country of Sugi to its limits”, capturing rich prey, including 25 statues of local gods, whom he took to Assyria.

Fourth Campaign

In 1112 BC e. In the year Tiglathpalasar I undertook a campaign in order to seize an important trade route along the valleys of the Upper Euphrates and Chorokh rivers , close to which the most important places of extraction of copper and silver-lead ores were concentrated at that time. At the same time, he defeated the troops of 23 "kings" of countries that for the most part defy localization. The farthest in the north was Dayaeni (Urartian Diau (e) hee; Greek "Taoha Country"), located in the area of ​​modern Erzurum , in the upper reaches of the Western Euphrates River (Kara-Su), and the country closest to Assyria was Tumme (possibly the Hittite Mist). During the clash, 120 chariots fell into the hands of the Assyrians.

After that, he fought with the 60 “kings” of the countries of Nairi , defeated them and, pursuing those who came to their aid, the only one of all the Assyrian kings who reached the shores of the Black Sea , probably near present Batumi . Further in the Assyrian annals it is reported that all the “kings” of the Nairi countries were allegedly taken prisoner, but released under oath and an obligation to pay a tribute of 1,200 horses and 2,000 cattle. The sons of the “kings" were taken hostage. Only Seni, the king of the country Dayaeni, who "did not bow to Ashur" was captured and taken to Ashur. True, subsequently, he was nevertheless pardoned and released.

On the way back, Tiglathpalasar paid tribute to lead ore from the city of Melid (or Melidia, now Malatya) and took the hostages away.

Fifth Campaign

Tiglathpalasar I undertook his fifth campaign west against the Achlameans (or as they were more often called at that time - Aramaeans), which became an extremely serious threat. In 1111 BC e. crossing the Euphrates at Karkemish , the Assyrians invaded Syria and conquered the regions of Nuhashshi, Nii, Katna. After Tiglathpalasar I crossed the Levant , where he ordered the cedars to be cut for the rebuilding in Ashur of a double temple with ziggurats for the gods Anu and Adad , who had been in ruins for 60 years by the time of the reign of Tiglathpalasar.

Then Tiglathpalasar entered the country of Amurra and went through a significant part of Phenicia , where he captured cities such as Byblos , Sidon , Arvad , and even took a boat trip on a ship and hunted for dolphins. Egypt now also recognized the international authority of Assyria, and the Egyptian pharaoh (possibly Nesubanebbed ) sent Tiglathpalasar as a gift of a crocodile and a hippopotamus.

On the way back, Tiglathpalasar I defeated the king of the Great Hatti, Ini-Teshub. This title was worn by the ruler of a small region with a center, apparently in Karkemish, who continued to consider himself the heir to the powerful Hittite kings. The Assyrian king imposed a tribute to the cedar forest on Ini-Teshub, however, it is not known whether it was paid. Then Tiglathpalasar climbed the Upper Frat Valley to Sukhmu (on the left bank of the river against the current Erzincan) and conquered this area.

Sixth trip

In 1110 BC e. Tiglathpalasar I undertook his sixth campaign, this time to the valley of Big Zab (Elamunia). The Assyrians invaded the country of Mucru (possibly later Mucatsir ) and conquered it. The Kumanians (residents of the city of Kumme ) came to the rescue of Mutsru, but Tiglathpalasar defeated them and locked them in the city of Arinni, located at the foot of Mount Aisa, and they were forced to submit. Then the main 20,000th Kumanian army was defeated in the battle on Mount Tala. Two thousand soldiers were captured, and the rest were taken to flight. The Assyrians pursued them to the mountain of Kharusa, that is, to the border with Mucru.

Then Tiglathpalasar approached the city of Hanus, surrounded by three walls made of burnt bricks and captured it. The city and surroundings were burned, and the walls were destroyed. Then the Assyrians besieged the city of Kipshuna (modern village of Gethshe) - the "royal city". The king of the Kumanites was afraid to resist and submitted. Tiglathpalasar ordered him to tear down the walls of the city. Three hundred soldiers and their families were evicted to Assyria, and tributes and taxes of the former were imposed on the Kumanites.

Wars of Babylonia

Tiglathpalasar also fought with Babylon; he undertook 2 campaigns there. Both times against King Marduk-nadin-ahhe .

The first time the case concerned the next straightening of the borders beyond the Tigris, between Maly Zab and Diyala. The second campaign was more serious. Taglathpalasar I occupied Dur Kurigalsa, Upi ( Descript ), Sippar and even Babylon , where he burned the royal palace. However, the success of the Assyrians in Babylonia was short-lived.

The same Marduk-naddin-ahhe in the 10th year of his reign ( 1083 BC ) threw them back to the city of Ekallatum , located on the border of Assyria proper, where the Babylonians captured statues of gods, and in particular the god Adad. Only Sinaheherib succeeded in returning the captured idols in 689 BC. e.

Board Summary

In just the first five years of his reign, Tiglatpalasar I subjugated 42 countries from the Murra Sea ( Mediterranean Sea ) to the Nairi Sea (Lake Van ), as the Assyrian king himself reported this in his inscription at the source of the Tiger. Plates describing the events of his first five years of reign were placed at the corners of the temple of Anu and Adad under construction, thanks to which it is well known about the initial period of Tiglathpalasar's rule.

Later Tiglatpalasar I went north of Lake Van, where he left an inscription on a rock near modern Malazgerd, which says that he conquered the Nairi countries from Harby to the Upper (Black) Sea. However, these were the short-term successes of Tiglathpalasar. He did not even try to secure the lands west of the Euphrates. The struggle with the nomads was already over Upper Mesopotamia. Tiglathpalasar was forced to commit at least 28 military campaigns against the Aramaeans, sometimes twice a year.

Military operations unfolded over a vast territory from Rapikum to Karkemish. Despite the fact that Tiglathpalasar I gained significant victories in this struggle and more than once crossed to the western coast of the Euphrates and defeated the nomads on their pastures on the slopes of Jebel Bishri and in the oasis of Tadmor ( Palmyra ), the Aramaeans moved further and further inland, occupying its steppes and pastures, cutting communications between Nineveh , Kalkhu , Ashur, Ekallatum and other cities.

Tiglathpalasar I ruled 39 years.

• Turaev B.A. Tiglathpalassar // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• "Ancient world history. The origin of the oldest class societies and the first foci of slave civilization. " In 2 volumes. Part 1. "Mesopotamia." Edited by I. M. Dyakonov . Publishing House "Science". M. 1983
• Ancient East and antiquity . // Rulers of the World. Chronological and genealogical tables on world history in 4 vols. / Compiled by V.V. Erlikhman . - T. 1.

• Inscriptions of Tiglathpalasar I
• CM 15 (Tiglath-pileser I Chronicle )