CITY
STATE OF ESHNUNNA
The minor city of Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar) was situated in the
Diyala Valley to the north-east of Sumer itself, but it was still
very much a part of Sumerian culture and civilisation. Occupied
from circa 2900 BC, it was never a significant power during Sumerian
times, but in the period of Ur's Third Dynasty it was a well-attested
city and capital of one of Ur's provinces with the same name. As
Ur headed towards collapse, the city (which is not mentioned in
the king list) gained an independent dynasty of its own. Its kings,
some of whom bore Elamite names, may even have been united with
Assyria for a time, and were a threat to later Babylonian hegemony.
Although
information on the kingdom is sparse, a historical framework for
Amorite Eshnunna can be pieced together from building inscriptions,
year dates, letters, and seal inscriptions both from Eshnunna and
elsewhere. The history of the city of Nuzi is closely interrelated
with that of the nearby towns of Eshnunna and Khafajah. There were
apparently twenty-eight kings for Eshnunna between 2065 - 1762 BC
although six are missing from this list.
fl
c.2030 BC :
Ituria
: Governor?
under Ur.
Ituria,
a city leader, builds a temple for his divine overlord, Shu-Sin
of Ur. Soon afterwards a palace is attached to this.
fl
c.2026 BC :
Shu-ilija
/ Ilshu-Ilia : Son. Claimed the independent kingship of
the city.
c.2026
BC :
Eshnunna
breaks away from the control of Ur during the second year of Ibbi-Sin's
reign. Shu-ilija maintains good relationships with Ishbi-Erra of
Isin as does his successor. However, the succeeding kings drop the
title of king to use the lesser one of 'énsi' (governor)
or 'ishshakum' insisting that the kingship of the state belongs
to the city's god, Tishpak.
![](Sumer_Eshnunna01_full.jpg)
Figurines
from Eshnunna, probably from the period around 2000 BC
fl
c.2010 BC :
Nurahum
/ Nur-Akhum : Received help from Isin to win a battle against
Subartu.
Kirikiri
: Bore an Elamite name.
Bilalama
: Bore an Elamite name.
Eshnunna
appears to maintain close contacts with Elam, although it seems
not to have been conquered by the Elamites.
Ishar-Ramashshu
fl
to c.1940 BC :
Usurawassu
/ Usur-Awasu :
The
city is sacked during the time of Usurawassu, possibly by Anum-muttabbil
of Der, and may be temporarily subject to that city. Little is known
about the subsequent nine rulers.
Abimadar
: Not on all lists.
Azuzum
Urninmar
/ Ur-Ninmar / Ur-Ninkimara
Urningishzida
/ Ur-Ningizzidda
Ipiqadad
I / Ibiq-Adad I
Abdi-Erah
Shiqlanum
fl
bef c.1895 BC :
Sharrija
/ Sharria
Belakum
/ Belakim
Warassa
fl
c.1870 BC :
Ibalpiel
I : Reigned for at least ten years (from a seal impression).
Eshnunna
seems to flourish again, perhaps due to the decline of Isin and
Larsa from the middle of the century. Ibalpiel re-adopts the title
of king, perhas in recognition of the fact that there is no longer
a single 'kingship of Sumer and Akkad' to which to defer.
c.1862
- 1818 BC :
Ipiqadad
II / Ibiq-Adad II : Son. Assumed divine
status - practice copied by all successors.
Ipiqadad
pursues an expansionist policy. The previously independent minor
cities of Nerebtum (modern Ishcali), Shaduppum (Tell Harmal), and
Dur-Rimush (location unknown) are all incorporated into the state.
fl
c.1830 - 1815 BC :
Naramsin
/ Naram-Sin : Son. Also king of Assyria,
probably by conquest.
Naramsin
extends Eshnunna's territory considerably into northern Babylonia
at a time when the small kingdom based at Babylon can do little
more than defend its own walls, and apparently also temporarily
conquers the Assyrians at Ashur, as well as the small state of Ekallatum.
Dannum-tahaz
: Son? May have ruled briefly after Ibalpiel II.
c.1808
- 1780 BC :
Dadusha
: Son of Ipiqadad II.
c.1780
BC :
The
kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia turns on its recent ally and seizes
Nerebtum and Shaduppum, although these and more are quickly taken
back upon the death of Shamshi-Adad in 1766 BC.
c.1779
- 1765 BC :
Ibalpiel
II / Ibal-pi-El II : Son or grandson. One of the major
leaders of this period.
c.1776
BC :
The
kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia is attacked simultaneously by Yamkhad
and Eshnunna, leading to its disappearance and a general restoration
of the old order.
c.1766
BC :
Eshnunnan
troops take part in the siege of Razama by Atamrum of Andarig, but
Ibalpiel hurries to assist Razama, collecting troops and a battering
ram from his governor in Qattunan on the way. The Razamans manage
to repel Atamrum before he arrives, so he returns home.
c.1764
- 1762 BC :
Silli-Sin
c.1764
BC :
Eshnunna
had been forming ties with Mari in the face of Babylon's growing
power, but as part of a coalition which attempts to invade Babylonia
the city is defeated and crushed by Hammurabi.
c.1762
BC :
The
Babylonian empire captures the only remaining political power to
oppose them when they take Eshnunna, inheriting well-established
trade routes and economic stability, and ending 250 years of Eshnunna's
independence.
![](Assyria_Tablet01_full.jpg)
Ancient
Mesopotamian names were always meaningful, and were therefore translatable
into other languages, as with this tablet, which records a large
number of exotic, non-Akkadian names in Akkadian
c.1756
BC :
There
is evidence that just four years after its supposed capture, the
entire town is ravaged by a terrible flood. After that, the city
only rarely appears in cuneiform textual sources, reflecting a probable
decline and eventual disappearance.
Iqishi-Tishpak
: Descendant of Naramsin? Vassal of Babylon?
?
- c.1736? BC :
Anni
: Killed in Babylon.
c.1741
- 1736 BC :
One
of Eshnunna's last notable acts is to side with Rim-Sin II of Larsa
in his revolt against the Babylonian empire. Anni is captured by
the Babylonians and is strangled. The city is destroyed.
Source
:
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/
KingListsMiddEast/
MesopotamiaEshnunna.htm