Shamash-shum-ukin
Šamaš - šuma - ukin (also Shamash Schumacher ukin; * at least 684 BC, † July 12 648 BC ), originally provided firstborn son of Esarhaddon and the ESAR - Hamath as heir to the throne in Assyria, ruled 668-648 BC when Babylonian king. The enthronement as Babylonian ruler was carried out by the determination of Esarhaddon, who dutifully took his younger brother Ashurbanipal as Assyrian king.
Life
His accession and first years of the reign
His name is first ( 668-667 BC) is in his accession year in Babylonian astronomical records of the calculated lunar eclipse of April 25, 668 BC ( 14 Ajaru ). Shortly after he finished on May 5 ( 24 Ajaru ) which is arranged by Sennacherib and Esarhaddon suspension of the annual Akitu festival. The present in Ashur statues of the gods of Akkad were also brought back to Babylon as well Nabu of Borsippa. With this measure, he drew the favor of Marduk priesthood to himself. On 7 September, 668 BC began the of Šamaš - šuma - ukin proclaimed leap month Ululu II
His brother Ashurbanipal, the Šamaš - šuma - ukin was subordinate in political and religious decisions intervened without success against the relaunch of the New Year. Šamaš - šuma - ukins first regnal year was BC sure dated due to the third cuneiform mention another lunar eclipse in 666 at first Nisannu 667 BC. In the fourth year of reign (664 BC), the Elamite prince fled on September 22, 664 BC ( 12 Tašritu ) to Assyria.
Šamaš - šuma - ukin, dissatisfied with the tutelage of Ashurbanipal, is to revive the economy and to complete Babylonian vassal agreements with some neighboring countries succeeded. His long-term goal was the independence of Babylonia Assyria. Assurbanipal planned 652 BC ending the troubling for him Šamaš policy - šuma - ukins, in turn, now took action to oppose military projects Assurbanipal can.
War against Assyria
Battle of Babylon
652 BC, in the 16th year of rule, called Šamaš - šuma - ukin in the months Ajaru to Tebetu for mobilization of the army, which was mostly recruited from cities in central and northern Babylonia. On December 26, 652 BC ( 19 Tebetu ) began with the support of the majority of Aramaic and Chaldean tribes, and Elamites, and nearly all Arab tribes of the attack on Assyria, which, however, with a first defeat in northern Babylonia for Šamaš - šuma - ukin and his allies ended. Before Assyrian troops were able to take Babylon, the Babylonian alliance drew on 3 March 651 BC ( 27 Addaru ) in the capital back. The situation seemed to have calmed down after that, as Šamaš - šuma - ukin the army disbanded and the soldiers had to return to their hometowns. Background for this was certainly the connected with the sacred processions Akitufest, which should be the last full with all the rituals, committed New Year's celebration at Šamaš - šuma - ukin at the same time.
Battle of Kutha
Shortly before the beginning of the 17th year of the reign it had to have come to Assyrian attacks in the region Borsippa as the Akitufest 651 BC and the divine Bestätigunsprozession related could not be celebrated befitting. This was followed in this context, further riots in Assyria and Akkad. Šamaš - šuma - ukin was agreed in the Babylonian calendar the leap month Ululu exclaim II, which began on August 29. Due to the ongoing unrest in command Šamaš - šuma - ukin on 7 September ( 9 Ululu II) 651 BC again mobilization. A short time later, this time the Assyrian army suffered a crushing defeat in the battle for the city Kutha, which was occupied by Šamaš - šuma - ukins Alliance and expanded as a base.
In the 18th year of reign was made by a renewed Assyrian advance on 1 July 650 BC ( 11 Du'uzu ) the invasion of Babylon. With the beginning of his 20th year of the reign Šamaš - šuma - ukin celebrated in Nisannu 648 BC his last Akitufest. On the holy procession, had to be omitted due to the armed conflict. After further struggles Šamaš - šuma - ukin defeated in his 20th year of reign on July 12, 648 BC during the conquest of Babylon.