Ashur-bel-kala

Campaigns to the Mediterranean Sea

Ashur-bel-kala, the son of Tiglathpalasar I , managed to seize the Assyrian throne after a stubborn struggle with his brother Ashared-apal-Ekur .

The reign of Ashur-bel-kala is characterized by a number of successful campaigns. At the beginning of the reign, a campaign was made on the Hittite kingdom of Karkemish . Crossing the goatskins on rafts across the Euphrates , the Assyrian army captured and plundered this city. Warriors of Ashur-bel-kala reached the Mediterranean Sea in their campaigns. Here, near the city of Arvad, he went on a ship to the sea and hunted a sea horse (apparently manatees ). He also hunted wild bulls and cows in the area of ​​the city of Aracikwe, on the Hittite territory, which was especially mentioned in the chronicles of the king.

Invasion of Babylonia

Ashur-bel-kala also invaded Babylonia . His annals tell of the conquest of two cities in the area of ​​the city of Dur Kurigalzu , where the Assyrians captured the governor of that region Kadashman-Buriash, the son of Itti-Marduk-balat .

Camping North

Later, Ashur-bel-kala made several more campaigns against the countries of Uruart ( Urartu ; this country was not yet a single state). Including in the area that was conquered by Salmanasar I , since the tribal associations of Uruartu, taking advantage of the weakening of Assyria, began to oust the Assyrians from territories near Lake Van .

Aramaic Threat Reflection

All his rule of Ashshur-bel-kala was forced to wage stubborn wars with the Aramaic tribes . Almost every year, and sometimes even several times a year, the Assyrian king campaigned against them. The Assyrians smashed them throughout the land between the Euphrates and the Tigris , especially in the Kashiyyari mountains (Tur Abdin, in the upper Tigris), as well as in the province of Sukhu, the oasis of Tadmor ( Palmyra ) and the country of Amurru . However, despite the capture of enormous prey and thousands of prisoners, these nomads did not succeed in achieving particular success against the extremely mobile hordes.

During the reign of Ashur-bel-kala, the Arameans approached the very walls of Nineveh . Driven from there, they settled on the northeastern borders of Assyria. One of the most active Aramaic tribes settled in the Nasibin area - the Tamanites , who soon created several independent state formations. The state of with its capital in Guzan, acquired the greatest importance among them. The influence of this state extended to the valleys of Balih, Khabur and Upper Euphrates.

To strengthen his position against the Aramaeans, who also threatened Babylonia, Ashur-bel-kala visited the Babylonian king Marduk-Shapik-Zeri in Sippar and concluded an alliance with him. After Marduk-Shapik-Zeri was overthrown, Ashur-bel-kala took the daughter of his successor Adad-apla-iddin as his wife.

Ashur-bel-kala rules 18 years.

• 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.

• Inschrift des zerbrochenen Obelisken, englische Übersetzung