Shamshi-Adad V

Detail from a stele portraying Shamshi-Adad V on British Museum

Shamshi-Adad V was the King of Assyria from 824 to 811 BC.

Biography

He was the son and successor of Shalmaneser III, the husband of Shammuramat (by some identified with the mythical Semiramis), and the father of Adad-nirari III, who succeeded him as king.

The first years of his reign saw a serious struggle for the succession of the aged Shalmaneser. The revolt was led by Shamshi-Adad's brother Assur-danin-pal, and had broken out already by 826 BC. The rebellious brother, according to Shamshi-Adad's own inscriptions, succeeded in bringing to his side 27 important cities, including Nineveh. The rebellion lasted until 820 BC, weakening the Assyrian empire and its ruler; this weakness continued to reverberate in the kingdom until the reforms of Tiglath-pileser III.

Later in his reign, Shamshi-Adad campaigned against Southern Mesopotamia, and stipulated a treaty with the Babylonian king Marduk-zakir-shumi I. In 814 BCE he won a battle of Dur-Papsukkal against the Babylonian king Marduk-balassu-iqbi and few Aramean tribes settled in Babylonia.

Preceded by Shalmaneser III

King of Assyria 824–811 BC

Succeeded by Adad-nirari III