List of kings of Urartu
This page lists the kings of Urartu (Ararat or Kingdom of Van), an Iron Age kingdom centered on Lake Van in eastern Asia Minor.
Early kings
Rise to power
- Sarduri I (also Sarduris I, Sedur I, Asiduri I) 834 BC–828 BC; known in Assyrian sources as Ishtarduri, moved the capital to Tushpa, expanded the fortress of Van, possibly established new dynasty.
- Ishpuini (also Ishpuinis, Ispuini) the Establisher 828 BC–810 BC; expanded the empire and conquered Mushashir.
- Menua (also Menuas, Minua) the Conqueror 810 BC–785 BC; initially ruled jointly with his father Ishpuini, greatly expanded the kingdom, organized the centralized administrative structure, fortified a number of cities and founded fortresses, developed a national canal and irrigation system.
- Argishti I (also Argishtis I, Argishtish I, Argisti I) 785–763 BC; fortified the empire's frontier, founded Erebuni (modern-day Yerevan).
- Sarduri II 763 BC–735 BC; maximum expansion; zenith of Urartian power.
- Rusa I (also Rusas, Ursa) 735 BC–714 BC; Assyrian and Cimmerian attacks.
- Argishti II 714–680 BC
- Rusa II (known to Assyrian king as Yaya) 680 BC–639 BC
- Sarduri III 639 BC–635 BC
Decline
Defeat and destruction
- Sarduri IV 615 BC–595 BC
- Rusa IV 595 BC–585 BC; raids of Medes and Scythians.
The Orontid Dynasty begins with King Orontes I Sakavakyats (570 BC–560 BC), after the last king of Urartu.
See also
References
- Boris Piotrovskii, The Ancient Civilization of Urartu, London, 1969.
- Igor Diakonoff, The Pre-History of the Armenian People, Caravan Books, New York, 1988.
- M. Chahin, The Kingdom of Armenia, Curzon, London, 2001.