Ashur-bel-nisheshu
Ashur-Bel-Nisheshu (Aš-šur-bēl-nišēmeš-šú,[1] “Ashur is lord of his peoples”[2]) was the king of Assyria from 1407 BC to 1398 BC (short chronology). He succeeded his father, Ashur-nirari II, to the throne and is best known for his treaty with Kassite king Karaindaš.
[edit] Biography
As was the practice during this period of the Assyrian monarchy, he modestly titled himself “vice-regent”, or išši'ak Aššur, of the god Ashur.[3] The Synchronistic Chronicle records his apparently amicable territorial treaty with Karaindaš, king of Babylon, and recounts that they “took an oath together concerning this very boundary.”[4] His numerous clay cone inscriptions celebrate his re-facing of Puzur-Ashur III’s wall of the “New City” district of Assur.[3]
Contemporary legal documents detail sales of land, houses, and slaves and payment in lead. The Assyrian credit system was fairly sophisticated, with loans issued for commodities such as barley and lead, interest coming due when repayment way delayed. The security posted for loans could include property, the person of the debtor or indeed his children.[5]
There is a discrepancy over his son and eventual successor. The Nassouhi Kings List, known as King List A, gives his immediate successor, Ashur-rim-nisheshu, as his son but King List’s B and C make this his brother, and name Eriba-Adad I, who ascended the throne eighteen years later, as his son.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Assyrian King List, ii, 38, iii,1.
- ^ D. D. Luckenbill. "Inscriptions of Early Assyrian Rulers". American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literature (University of Chicago. Dept. of Semitic Languages and Literatures) 28 (3): 178.
- ^ a b A. K. Grayson (1972). Assyrian Royal Inscriptions, Volume 1. Otto Harrassowitz. p. 38. §236—240.
- ^ Synchronistic Chronicle (ABC 21), tablet A, column 1, lines 1 to 4.
- ^ C. J. Gadd (1975). "XVIII: Assyria and Babylon, 1370—1300 B.C.". In I. E. S. Edwards, C. J. Gadd, N. G. L. Hammond, S. Solberger. The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume II, Part 2, History of the Middle East and the Aegean Region, 1380 – 1000 BC. Cambridge University Press. pp. 38—39.
- ^ Albert Kirk Grayson (1975). Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles. J. J. Augustin. p. 209.
| Preceded by Ashur-nirari II |
King of Assyria 1407–1398 BCE |
Succeeded by Ashur-rim-nisheshu |
