Shamash-noise-ukin

Shamash-noise-ukin appointed king of Babylon

During his lifetime, Asarhaddon appointed Ashurbanipal the heir to the Assyrian throne, and Shamash-noise-ukina, his son from the Babylonian, made him king of Babylon . Ashurbanipal never emphasizes that he is a senior. If this were so, then he would not fail to rely on it, because the existing Assyrian legislation justified the preemptive rights to the inheritance of the eldest of sons. Shamash-noise-ukin never pays tribute to his brother for his seniority, but uses the term “ahu talim” , which means “twin brother” or “equal brother”. Ashurbanipal also uses the same term in his inscriptions. Most likely, they did not have age-related advantages over each other, and the successor-throne issue was partly resolved by the influence of their mothers on their father, and mainly by the pro-Assyrian and the Babylonian parties.

After the death of Asarhaddon, the grandmother of Ashurbanipal Zakutu resolutely took up the swearing of the population to the young king. Particular attention was paid to the swearing in of Shamash-noise-ukin, who was supposed to be made not the king of Babylon, but only subjects of the Assyrian king. A wave of protests swept through Babylon, but the Babylonians were forced to swear allegiance to the king of Assyria. But still, Ashurbanipal had to retreat before the opposition. All winter and spring of 668 BC e. ^[1] Ashurbanipal hesitated, he asked the oracle of the god Shamash : “should Shamash-noise-ukin take the hand of the great lord god Marduk in the city?” , “Should the god Marduk return from Ashur to Babylon?” ; in both cases the oracle gave an affirmative answer. In the month of ayaru (April - May), Ashurbanipal finally decided to fulfill his father's will, and appointed Shamash-noise-Ukina king of Babylon, in connection with which the statue of the god Marduk and other Babylonian gods, who were in Assyria from 689, was returned to Babylon 16 year BC e. ^[1] May 13 (according to other sources, June 12) Shamash-noise-ukin was solemnly crowned in the temple of Marduk by the king of Babylon.

Shamash-noise-ukin seeks to raise his authority in the eyes of the Babylonians

Shamash-noise-ukin received control only of North Babylonia, and in the south Ashurbanipal kept independent Chaldean principalities and the coastal country for balance. Although the southern cities of Uruk , Ur , Eredu, and others formally entered the kingdom of Shamash-noise-ukin, in fact, Ashurbanipal kept his military forces there and, apparently, completely controlled them.

Having ascended the throne, Shamash-noise-ukin strove to create authority in the eyes of the Babylonian priesthood and citizens. He updated the Babylonian temples, built the Naboo sanctuary, and rebuilt the fortress wall in Sippar . It was restored as a state - Sumerian language . At the same time, Shamash-noise-ukin strengthened his power by exterminating the rebellious elements. The Babylonian Chronicle briefly tells of the capture and murder in the first year of his reign of a certain Babylonian Bel-etir (literally. "Lord Saved").

Peaceful coexistence of Shamash-noise-ukina with Ashurbanipal

At first, relations between Assyria and Babylonia were peaceful. Ashurbanipal probably helped Shamash-noise-ukin in the formation of the troops. He restored temples in the territory of Babylonia ( Esagila in Babylon , Ebarra in Sippar , etc.), made sacrifices to the Babylonian gods Shamash , Marduk , Ishtar - Inanna . Shamash-noise-ukin, for his part, in the inscriptions did not tire of praising his brother. On the walls in the Babylonian temples, both brothers were depicted carrying baskets of building materials on their heads, their construction activities were praised.

In one letter, Shamash-noise-ukin assures Ashurbanipal that he uncovered the crime of a certain Sin-balatsu-ikbi, which threatened the lives of both of them. Moreover, it appears from the text that the offender was some kind of person close to Ashurbanipal, and was in Babylon.

Elamite Invasion

King Elam Urtaki , who was worried about the strengthening of Assyria and, moreover, who did not want to abandon his long-standing claims regarding Babylonia , violated the world. In 665 BC e. in alliance with the ruler of Gambulu (one of the most powerful Aramaic principalities in Babylonia), Bel-Ikish and the Assyrian viceroy in Primorye, Nabu-noise-eresh (lit. “Nabu wanted offspring” ), Urtaki unexpectedly burst into the southern outskirts of Babylonia and even went to the very Babylon, where he became a camp. The situation was complicated by the fact that the Assyrian army at that time was on the western borders of the empire.

Shamash-noise-ukin sent a messenger to his brother asking for help. Ashurbanipal moved troops to Mesopotamia . Upon learning of this, the Urtaki and rebellious princes lifted the siege of Babylon and began a retreat to the border of Elam. The Assyrians caught up with them at the border and defeated them. The victory of the Assyrians was not decisive and, in principle, the war of 665 BC. e. did not bring significant results to either side, however, in the same year, Urtaki and the leaders of the rebels “suddenly” died. Apparently, they were eliminated with the help of the Assyrian secret service.

Shamash-noise-ukin creates anti-Assyrian coalition

Meanwhile, Shamash-noise-ukin, wanting to achieve full independence, in a short time created a broad anti-Assyrian coalition. This coalition included Elam , a number of Chaldean and Aramaic principalities of Babylonia ( Primorye , Bit Sinmagir , Pukudu and others), as well as Western Iranian principalities (including Midia and Parsumash ( Persis ). In the west, Arabs joined Aribu, Kidri and, to a lesser extent, Nabayate), some Phoenician cities ( Tire , Acre , Arvad , etc.) and Judea.In addition, Shamash-noise-ukin apparently entered into allied relations with Egypt and Lydia .

The first rose west. Concluding the struggle for the liberation of Egypt from the power of Assyria, Psammetichus I in 654 BC. e. withdrew his troops from the country and approached Ashdod , then the former Assyrian governorship. At the same time, Lydia made an alliance with Egypt, breaking the bonds of submission and, in general, diplomatic relations with Assyria. Then or a little later in 653 BC. e. Midia began the struggle against Assyria, which was called in the annals of Ashurbanipal by the ancient term "Gutium country." Tyr and Arvad, recently defeated in 660 BC. e. , too, apparently, longed for revenge, but they apparently had little strength. Therefore, the participation of Syria and Phenicia in the rebellion of Shamash-noise-Ukina is said somehow casually.

Rise of Shamash-noise-ukina

In the spring of 652 BC e. Shamash-noise-ukin equipped the honorary embassy in Nineveh to honor Ashshurbanapalu . Under this specious pretext, he led the leaders of the pro-Assyrian group from Babylon and raised a rebellion. Simultaneously with Babylon, the Arab allies of Shamash-noise-Ukina also spoke. At the beginning of Wyate, the son of Bir-daddah, King Aribi refused to pay tribute to Assyria, then he began to attack the lands subordinate to her. Judging by the names, these were the southern Palestinian and southern Assyrian regions. At the same time, an army was sent under the command of the brothers of the military commanders Abiyate and Ayam, the sons of Teri, to help Babylon. At the same time, the ruler of the principality of Kidri (Kedar) Ammuladi revolted. He started a war with some of the Syrian principalities, obviously loyal to Ashurbanipal. And, finally, King Nabayate (Nabatean) Natna took on all possible assistance.

Together with Babylon, an uprising began by Sippar , Borsippa and Nippur , but many Babylonian cities, including Kutu , Uruk and Ur , refused to support Shamash-noise-ukina, and remained faithful to Assyria. The large Chaldean principalities of Middle Babylonia, Bit Amukkani and Bit Dakkuri , also remained on the side of the latter. As for Elam and the Chaldeans of Primorye , they waited, and prepared for the struggle. Thus, the allies did not simultaneously oppose Assyria, and this from the very beginning seriously weakened the uprising. However, Shamash-noise-ukin acted quickly and energetically, without waiting for Ashurbanapan to gather strength. He took possession of Kutu and cleared the entire of Babylonia from the Assyrian garrisons. And Naboo-kata-tsabatu from the Chaldean principality of Bit-Sinmagir , "the man of Shamash-noise- ukina " was sent to Elam, whose purpose was to incite the Elamites to rebel against Assyria.

The first successes of the Assyrians

Meanwhile, turning to the Cimmerians , the Assyrians enlisted their help in the fight against Lydia . Under the blows of the Cimmerians, in 652 BC. e. which occupied the whole country, the capital of Sardis and could not take only the impregnable acropolis. Lydia was forced to capitulate. Giges fell in battle, and his son and heir Ardis immediately recognized the rule of Assyria.

In April 651 BC e. the Assyrian army arrived under Babylon. Shamash-noise-ukin was defeated at the walls of Babylon and retreated into the city. On the approaches to Babylon, the Arabs were also defeated, under the command of Abiyate and Ayamu, hurrying to reunite with the rebels. Broken and scattered Arabs also took refuge in Babylon.

Assistance to the rebels by the Elamites and Chaldeans

The situation for the rebels was critical, but at that time, having received from the Shamash-noise-ukin, as a payment for help, the treasures of the Babylonian Esagila , the Elamite king Humban-Nikash II (Assyr Ummanigash) entered the war. The Elamites invaded Babylonia and besieged Uruk .

The ruler of Primorye Nabu-bel-shumate , the grandson of Marduk-apl-iddin II, at first tried to get along with Ashshurbanapal and even got some possessions from him in Chaldea, but during the Shamash-noise-ukin uprising, he fell away from Assyria and fled to to the king of Elam, having captured by fraud the Assyrian detachment given to him by Ashurbanipal. In Elam, part of this unit was imprisoned. The Chaldeans of Nabu-Bel-Shumate came out on the side of Shamash-noise-Ukin, invaded Babylonia and besieged Ur . The inhabitants of the city, having not received help from Assyria and brought by the siege to cannibalism, surrendered. With the loss of Ur, the Assyrians lost almost all of southern Babylonia. Now in their hands was left only Uruk , a large and well-fortified city, which prevented the unification of the forces of Shamash-noise-Ukina, Nabu-Bel-Shumate and the Elamites. A tense struggle unfolded around him. Here the outcome of the company was decided 651 BC. e. In the battle of Bab Sam, the Assyrians again defeated Shamash-noise-ukina and did not allow him to connect with the Elamites.

In February 650 BC e. the Assyrians took Nippur , and then defeated the army of the Elamite king Humpanikash at the battle of Mangisi, near Dera . Secret Assyrian service achieved even greater success. She organized a coup in Elam. Humpanikash and his family were killed, and the throne captured Tammarita . Elam was temporarily paralyzed and withdrawn from the struggle.

The defeat of the Western allies Shamash-noise-ukina

The Assyrian troops operating on the western front, in alliance with some of the loyalties remaining to him, the viceroys of Syria and Phenicia and the state of Moab , inflicted a number of attacks on the Arab principalities. The resistance of the Arabs was actually suppressed. Then the Assyrians, in the most unexpected and uncomfortable way, from the southeast, through Moab allied with them, entered the borders of Judea . The Judean king Manasseh was captured and taken to Nineveh , where he was put in prison, but after a while he was released for a huge ransom and restored to the throne. The Egyptian pharaoh Psammetikh I , when the Assyrian army began to threaten him with entering the rear, was forced to leave Ashdod and retreat to Egypt. Thus, the uprising in the west was almost eliminated.

Assyrians besieging Babylon, Borsippus, Sippar and Kutu

In the spring of 650 BC e. Assyrians besieged Babylon , Borsippus , Sippar and Kutu . In the south, Bel-ibni, one of the largest political and military leaders of the time, fought the Chaldeans. Chaldean by birth, Bel-ibni was in Assyrian service and distinguished himself in the defense of Uruk . In April 650 BC e. Ashurbanipal appointed him governor of Primorye , entrusting him with the fight against Nabu Shumate. The latter, having suffered several defeats and having lost the island of Dilmun ( Bahrain ), where his treasures were stored, was forced to leave Primorye and go to Elam . From here he led a guerrilla war against Bel-ibni.

Assyrians eliminate the Elamite threat

In the spring of 649 BC e. Elam recovered from the turmoil caused by the defeats of Humban-Nikash II and the coup, and again entered the war. The forces of Tammarith invaded Middle Babylonia, where the Assyrian army was commanded by the Babylonian Marduk-sarra-uzur . But at this time a new coup occurred in Elam, and a certain Indabigash seized the throne. Frustrated by Indabigash, Tammaritu, with his brothers, relatives and a handful of associates, fled by sea, but was captured by Bel-ibni. He sent the captives to Nineveh . The Assyrians made peace with the new Elamite king.

The Capture of Kuta, Sipppara and Borsippa

Shamash-noise-ukin and the Babylonians were completely isolated. The Assyrian army besieging Babylon , Borsippu , Sippar and Kutu was commanded by the Babylonian Marduk apla-iddin. First, he captured Kuta, thereby protecting his siege camp from attacks from the rear. Following Kuta, Sippar fell. In the summer of 648 BC e. the Assyrians took Borsippus. Its citizens, implicated in the organization of the uprising, committed suicide themselves.

The fall of Babylon. Death Shamash-noise-ukina

The position of Babylon in the fall of 648 BC e. became hopeless. Grain prices increased 60 times against normal time and the usual official grain price. In the city began epidemics and cannibalism. Not wanting to be captured alive by Ashurbanipal , Shamash-noise-ukin set fire to the royal palace and threw himself into the fire. His example was followed by his wife and close friends. Noticing a fire in the city, Marduk-apla-iddin led the Assyrians to storm. The attackers broke into the city and brutally robbed him, not sparing even the temples, despite the fact that Ashurbanapal strictly forbade them to be touched.

Ruthless terror fell on the active supporters of Shamash-noise-ukina. Tongues were pulled out from some, and then they were executed, others were cut into pieces and thrown into a ditch, giving it to dogs, wild animals, and birds of prey. The king granted forgiveness and life to the rest of the inhabitants of Babylon , Sipppar , Borsippa , Kuta, but all their former rights and liberties were destroyed, and they were taxed with tribute and land taxes, as well as the population in other provinces subject to the king. The remains of Shamash-noise-ukina and his wife, on the orders of Ashurbanipal, were buried in a specially prepared crypt. The king of Babylon was proclaimed Kandalan .

• Chronicle of Shamash-noise-Ukina (ABC 15)
• Belyavsky V.A. Babylon is legendary and Babylon is historical . - M .: Thought, 1971. - 319 p. - 60,000 copies.
• 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.
• Grayson, Albert Kirk. The chronology of the reign of Ashurbanipal (Appendix B ) // Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie. - 1980. - Vol. 70 , no. 2 . - P. 227-245 .