Tukulti-Ninurta II | |
---|---|
King of the Neo-Assyrian Empire | |
Reign | 890–884 BCE |
Predecessor | Adad-Nirari II |
Successor | Ashurnasirpal II |
Born | 10th century BCE |
Died | 884 BCE |
Issue | Ashurnasirpal II |
Father | Adad-Nirari II |
Mother | Babylonian princess, daughter of Nabu-shuma-ukin I (?) [1] |
Tukulti-Ninurta II (meaning: "my trust is in [the warrior god] Ninurta") was King of Assyria from 890 BCE to 884 BCE. He was the second king of the Neo Assyrian Empire.
His father was Adad-nirari II, the first king of the Neo-Assyrian period. Tukulti-Ninurta consolidated the gains made by his father over the Neo-Hittites, Babylonians and Arameans, and successfully campaigned in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, subjugating the newly arrived Iranian peoples of the area, the Persians and Medes, during his brief reign. [2] [ self-published source ]
Tukulti-Ninurta II was victorious over Ammi-Ba'al, the king of Bit-Zamani, and then entered into a treaty with him (which included prohibitions against selling horses to Assyria's foes), as a result of which Bit-Zamani became an ally, and in fact a vassal of Assyria. Ammi-Ba'al remained in power, but from that moment on, he had to support Tukulti-Ninurta II during his military expeditions to the Upper Tigris against the Hurrians and Urartians in Nairi. [3]
Tukulti-Ninurta II developed both Nineveh and Assur, in which he improved the city walls, built palaces and temples and decorated the gardens with scenes of his military achievements. [4]
His son, Ashurnasirpal II, succeeded him.
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