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 Kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia
The founder of the short-lived kingdom of Upper
Mesopotamia was Shamshi-Adad, an
Amorite descendent of Ila-Kabkaba,
one of the Assyrian 'Kings
who were Ancestors' (although the name was probably added after the conquest
of Assyria).
During the occupation of
Assyria by Naram-Sin,
king of Eshnunna,
Shamshi-Adad fled to
Babylon. Following Naram-Sin's
death, he returned to take power when he recaptured the small city
state of Ekallatum, refounding his own kingdom, and
spending three years building up his forces there. Then, during a period
which saw
the general expansion of Amorite power from the Khabur river delta in the
nineteenth century BC, Shamshi-Adad overthrew the Assyrian king, Erishum II, and took control of Assyria, dominating all of northern
Mesopotamia.
Very quickly he created a new capital at
the ancient site of Shehna, expanding the settlement and building a
royal palace and city gate. He also renamed it Shubat-Enlil, 'the residence
of the god Enlil'. |
c.1809 BC |
Shamshi-Adad sets up an empire which stretches from Tuttel near the Mediterranean to
Assyria and
the foothills of the Zagros Mountains,
and incorporates Apum, Carchemish, and Qattara amongst others. It is aided by its ally,
Eshnunna.
The former capital of Apum in the Khabur Valley is chosen as the site for
the new capital, Shubat-Enlil. |
c.1776 BC |
Although Ishme-Dagan is a capable military leader, his reign is chaotic and
he is never able to assert control over his father's empire. It seems likely
that Shubat-Enlil is lost very quickly to local forces,
while the king continues to rule
Ekallatum and
Assyria.
The Syrian and northern Mesopotamian states regain their freedom and restore
the previous order. Apum also regains its own independence. |
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