![]() Some Assyriologists, such as Natalie Naomi May, have suggested that Sargon was a member of a collateral branch of the Adaside dynasty from the western part of the empire. If Sargon was Tiglath-Pileser's son, his mother might have been the queen Iaba. Most historians cautiously accept that Sargon was Tiglath-Pileser's son but not the legitimate heir to the throne as the next-in-line after Shalmaneser. Sargon mentioned his origin in just two known inscriptions, where he referred to himself as Tiglath-Pileser's son, and in the Borowski Stele, probably from Hama in Syria, which referenced his "royal fathers". Whereas kings typically elaborated on their origin in inscriptions, Sargon stated that the Assyrian national deity Ashur had called him to the throne. In contrast to Tiglath-Pileser, little is recorded of Shalmaneser's brief reign. This trend reversed during the tenure of Tiglath-Pileser, who reduced the influence of powerful officials, reformed the army and more than doubled the size of the empire. ![]() Sargon grew up during the reigns of Ashur-dan III ( r.773–755 BC) and Ashur-nirari V ( r.755–745 BC), when rebellion and plague affected the Neo-Assyrian Empire the prestige and power of Assyria dramatically declined. Although Sargon is generally regarded as the founder of a new dynastic line, the Sargonid dynasty, he was probably a scion of the incumbent Adaside dynasty. His reign was immediately preceded by those of Tiglath-Pileser III ( r.745–727) and Tiglath-Pileser's son Shalmaneser V ( r.727–722). 770 BC and cannot have been born later than c. ![]() Nothing is known of Sargon II's life before he became king. Relief from Nimrud depicting Sargon II's probable father Tiglath-Pileser III ( r.745–727 BC right) and possibly also his probable brother Shalmaneser V ( r.727–722 BC left) Due to his conquests and reforms, Sargon is today considered one of the most important Assyrian kings.īackground Ancestry and rise to the throne He was not fully accepted in Assyriology as a real king until the 1860s. Sargon was barely mentioned in later ancient literature and nearly completely forgotten until the ruins of Dur-Sharrukin were discovered in the 19th century. As a result, Sennacherib distanced himself from Sargon. Sargon's son Sennacherib was deeply disturbed by his father's death and believed that he must have committed some grave sin. Sargon's fate was a major psychological blow for the Assyrians and damaged his legacy. According to ancient Mesopotamian religion, he was cursed to remain a restless ghost for eternity. He was killed in battle and the Assyrian army was unable to retrieve his body, preventing a traditional burial. Sargon embarked on his final campaign, against Tabal in Anatolia, in 705. Sargon also increased the influence and status of both women and scribes at the royal court. He forgave defeated enemies on several occasions and maintained good relations with foreign kings and with the ruling classes of the lands he conquered. ![]() He worked to assimilate and integrate conquered foreign peoples into the empire and extended the same rights and obligations to them as native Assyrians. Like other Assyrian kings, Sargon at times enacted brutal punishments against his enemies but there are no known cases of atrocities against civilians from his reign. Sargon considered himself to have been divinely mandated to maintain and ensure justice. From 717 to 707, Sargon constructed a new Assyrian capital named after himself, Dur-Sharrukin ('Fort Sargon'), which he made his official residence in 706. Among Sargon's greatest accomplishments were the stabilization of Assyrian control over the Levant, the weakening of the northern kingdom of Urartu, and the reconquest of Babylonia. By the end of his reign, all of his major enemies and rivals had been either defeated or pacified. An accomplished warrior-king and military strategist, Sargon personally led his troops into battle. Over the course of his seventeen-year reign, Sargon substantially expanded Assyrian territory and enacted important political and military reforms. Modelling his reign on the legends of the ancient rulers Sargon of Akkad, from whom Sargon II likely took his regnal name, and Gilgamesh, Sargon aspired to conquer the known world, initiate a golden age and a new world order, and be remembered and revered by future generations. He is typically considered the founder of a new dynastic line, the Sargonid dynasty. Probably the son of Tiglath-Pileser III ( r.745–727), Sargon is generally believed to have become king after overthrowing Shalmaneser V ( r.727–722), probably his brother. Sargon II ( Neo-Assyrian cuneiform: Šarru-kīn, meaning "the faithful king" or "the legitimate king") was the king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 722 BC to his death in battle in 705.
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