Shamshi-Adad I

Samsi - Adad I ( Shamshi -Adad ) was King in Upper Mesopotamia at the end of the Old Assyrian period, where he established a separate kingdom. His exact date is disputed.

Title

Samsi -Adad was called as the first ruler in Assyria Šar kiššatim, "King of the whole ", the following example of Sargon. Furthermore, he called himself governor of Enlil, šakindEn - lil, the supreme Lord, the Lugal kurkurra, Lord of all countries, according to a clay tablet from Terqa also incarnation of Dagan and Ashur issakku.

History

In the Assyrian King List is reported that he was the son of Ila - Kabkabi. The latter was a well-known from other sources amurritischer local prince whose power center is suspected in the area of Terqa or in Ekallatum. Ila - Kabkabi was initially allied with Jaggid -Lim of Mari. However, when Jaggid -Lim committed breach of contract, Ila - Kabkabi was successful militarily against him. This conflict lasted even under Jaggid - Lim's successor Jaḫdun -Lim.

It has been speculated that this conflict was the reason for the escape Samsi -Adad to Babylon and the impulse for his next conquest. According to other conjectures was taking Ekallatums by Naram -Sin of Eshnunna the reason for this. The Assyrian King List provides information on the course of Samsi -Adad to Babylon, reasons they do not call. Since its origin is unknown, Samsi -Adad and his father were perhaps nomadic leaders.

In the king list is further reported that Samsi -Adad from Babylon Ekallatum conquered, there reigned three years, then moved to Ashur, the local ruler Erišum II deposed and Assyria ruled for 33 years.

In the result, Samsi -Adad did out as a conqueror. So he took a well Terqa and arch-rivals Mari. In an inscription he pretends to have his rule extended to the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, however, his sphere consisted of northern Mesopotamia, north-eastern areas of Syria, and eastern parts of present-day Turkey. He also formed alliances with other rulers. His fight against Jamchad, he fought out together with Qatna, but was unsuccessful.

The Crown Prince ISME Dagan I. Samsi -Adad rendered great responsibility. He was inducted into Ekallatum as Viceroy, married to a princess from Qatna and had to not only resist the aggressive nomadic Turukkäer defy but also Sirukduḫ of Elam and Dāduša of Eshnunna. This coalition could not long withstand, though he tried to use the inherited from his father connections to Babylon and to rest against the resurgent Hammurabi of Babylon after the death of Samsi -Adad.

Isme - Dagan's younger brother Jasmaḫ -Adad was used by Samsi -Adad in Mari as second viceroy. Much of his correspondence with his father has been hidden in the archives of Mari. Samsi -Adad is therefore one of the best people testified of his era. Zimri- Lim was Mari and Terqa reconquered the end of the reign Jasmah -Adad.

Buildings

On older temple of the god Ashur in the same city could be conducted Samsi -Adad extensive construction. A building inscription of Shalmaneser III. reported by Assurtempel Ehursakurkurra: "As Ehursakurkurra, the temple of Ashur, my lord, the Ušpia, my ancestor, priest of Ashur, had built ages ago, had become dilapidated, my ancestor Erišum I, priest of Assur restored him. " After 150 years, the temple was in turn dilapidated, and Samsi -Adad, priest of Ashur, restored him. After 580 years elapsed until a new restoration by Shalmaneser III. In addition, Samsi -Adad built in the Ashur ( he equated with Ashur ) Enlil a great ziggurat, as he writes, in gratitude for the Enlil of Nippur had appointed him ruler. Still not Ashur, but Sehna was his residence, which he renamed symbolism in Subat - Enlil ( Akkadian for " abode of Enlil ").

After a clay tablet found in Terqa he also refurbished the local Dagan temple.

Chronology

Under the reign of Samsi -Adad probably the Assyrian king list was compiled in order to legitimize his rule. It was then continued under later rulers. The rulers of the king list 1-26 represent the genealogy Samsi -Adad; they partially shows similarities to that of Ammi - saduqa of Babylon and perhaps goes back to a common amurritische tradition. Samsi -Adad died after the 10th year of the reign of Hammurabi, usually the 17th palu is assumed. Death can therefore be dated according to the different chronologies for the years 1680/1712/1776 BC.