Chronology of the main provisions and the ruling families in mesopotamia

LISTS OF DYNASTIES AND KINGS

In the following tables presented the chronology of the principal rulers and dynasties of Mesopotamia. The scheme offered below corresponds with the findings of most historians and with the King Lists compiled by Sumerian and Babylonian scribes about2 000 B.C.. which were found at Nippur, Larsa, and other ancient cities. It agrees with Jacobsen’s and other recent translations, with the Assyrian King Lists discovered Khorsabad, and with other texts inscribed on clay tablets with the names and deeds of the kings. Where kings’ names are followed by second in brackets, this refers to older versions which may be found in earlier publications. As to the lengths of reign, historians and archaeologists have based their estimates on such criteria as the occurrence of kings’ names in neighboring countries and on wars and other events which are recorded on clay tablets. However, calculations based on such foundations are often misleading, and show differences, gaps, and errors. Nevertheless, the durations of reigns after the middle of the Second Millennium B.C. are given estimates which are fairly accurate, although reigns from 1500 B.C. to 900 B.C. are still only approximate, being liable to be raised or lowered by a maximum of 64 years; after 900 B.C. a variation of more than one or two years cannot be anticipated.

The scheme below, therefore, seems to be the best currently available, representing the consensus of opinion among scholars. When different estimates exist, these are shown in parallel columns, with references to the Bibliography, No. 35.

Kings before the Flood

Well before 3000 B.C. eight kings wielded power. According to mythical tradition. Hey reigned in five cities, and for-an impossibly long time, which the King Lists put at241,200 years. After them came the Flood, which inundated the whole world.

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Comments
“After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug.”
Alulim		8 sars (28,800 years)	Weld-Blundell Prism: initial paragraph about rule of Alulim and Alalngar in Eridu for 64.800 years.
Alalngar		10 sars (36,000 years)
“Then Eridug fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira.”
En-men-lu-ana		12 sars (43,200 years)
En-men-gal-ana		8 sars (28,800 years)
Dumuzid, the Shepherd	“the shepherd”	10 sars (36,000 years)	Dumuzid was deified and was the object of later devotional depictions, as the husband of goddess Inanna.
“Then Bad-tibira fell and the kingship was taken to Larag.”
En-sipad-zid-ana		8 sars (28,800 years)
“Then Larag fell and the kingship was taken to Zimbir.”
En-men-dur-ana		5 sars and 5 ners (21,000 years)	Emmeduranki was taught arts of divination, such as how to inspect oil on water and how to discern messages in the liver of animals and several other divine secrets.
“Then Zimbir fell and the kingship was taken to Shuruppag.”
Ubara-Tutu		5 sars and 1 ner (18,600 years)	Father of Utnapishtim in Epic of Gilgamesh
“Then the flood swept over.”^[33]^[34]^[35]

First dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
“After the flood had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kish.”
Jushur		1,200 years	historicity uncertain	Names before Etana are archaeologically unverified.
Kullassina-bel		960 years		Name is Akkadian for “Lord of all women”.
Nangishlishma		670 years
En-tarah-ana		420 years
Babum		300 years		Name is Akkadian for “gate”.
Puannum		840 years
Kalibum		960 years		Name is Akkadian for “dog”, also symbolic for humility.
Kalumum		840 years
Zuqaqip		900 years		Name is Akkadian for “scorpion”.
Atab (or A-ba)		600 years
Mashda	“the son of Atab”	840 years
Arwium	“the son of Mashda”	720 years
Etana	“the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries”	1,500 years		Myth of Etana exists
Balih	“the son of Etana”	400 years
En-me-nuna		660 years
Melem-Kish	“the son of En-me-nuna”	900 years
Barsal-nuna	(“the son of En-me-nuna”)*	1,200 years
Zamug	“the son of Barsal-nuna”	140 years
Tizqar	“the son of Zamug”	305 years
Ilku		900 years
Iltasadum		1,200 years
Enmebaragesi	“who made the land of Elam submit”	900 years		Earliest ruler on the list to be attested directly from archeology.
Aga of Kish	“the son of En-me-barage-si”	625 years		According to Gilgamesh and Aga he fought Gilgamesh.
“Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to E-anna.

First rulers of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Mesh-ki-ang-gasher of E-ana	“the son of Utu”	324 years	Late Uruk Period	Historicity doubted, thought to be an addition by the Ur III period.
“Mesh-ki-ang-gasher entered the sea and disappeared.”
Enmerkar	“the son of Mesh-ki-ang-gasher, the king of Unug, who built Unug (Uruk)”	420 years	Late Uruk Period
Lugalbanda	“the shepherd”	1,200 years	Late Uruk Period	Historicy is uncertain among scholars.
Dumuzid the Fisherman	“the fisherman whose city was Kuara.” “He was taken captive by the single hand of Enmebaragesi“	100 years	Jemdet Nasr period	Historicity doubted, thought to be an addition by the Ur III period.
Gilgamesh	“whose father was a phantom (?), the lord of Kulaba”	126 years	EDI	Contemporary with Aga of Kish, according to Gilgamesh and Aga
Ur-Nungal	“the son of Gilgamesh”	30 years
Udul-kalama	“the son of Ur-Nungal”	15 years
La-ba’shum		9 years
En-nun-tarah-ana		8 years
Mesh-he	“the smith”	36 years
Melem-ana		6 years
Lugal-kitun		36 years
“Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur).

First dynasty of Ur

Main article: First Dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Mesh-Ane-pada		80 years	c. 27th century BC	Existence is likely as it is supported by many tablets.
Mesh-ki-ang-Nuna	“the son of Mesh-Ane-pada”	36 years
Elulu		25 years
Balulu		36 years
“Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan.

Dynasty of Awan

Main article: Awan dynasty

This was a dynasty from Elam.

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Three kings of Awan		356 years
“Then Awan was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish.

Second dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Comments
Susuda	“the fuller”	201 years
Dadasig		81 years
Mamagal	“the boatman”	360 years
Kalbum	“the son of Mamagal”	195 years
Tuge		360 years
Men-nuna	“the son of Tuge”	180 years
(Enbi-Ishtar)		290 years	Defeated by Enshakushanna when Kish was sacked.
Lugalngu		360 years
“Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Hamazi.

The First dynasty of Lagash (c. 2500 – c. 2271 BC) is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions

Dynasty of Hamazi

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Hadanish		360 years
“Then Hamazi was defeated and the kingship was taken to (Uruk).

Second dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
En-shag-kush-ana	60 years	c. 25th century BC	Said to have conquered parts of Sumer; then Eannatum of Lagash claims to have taken over Sumer, Kish, and all Mesopotamia.
Lugal-kinishe-dudu or Lugal-ure	120 years		Contemporary with Entemena of Lagash
Argandea	7 years
“Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur).

Second dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign
Nanni		120 years
Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna II	“the son of Nanni”	48 years
“Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Adab.

Dynasty of Adab

Main article: Adab (city)

Other rulers of Adab are known, besides Lugal-Ane-mundu, but they are not mentioned in the Sumerian King List.

Ruler		Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Lugal-Ane-mundu			90 years	c. 25th century BC	Known from other inscriptions. Said to have conquered all Mesopotamia from the arab Gulf to the Zagros Mountains and Elam.
“Then Adab was defeated and the kingship was taken to Mari.

Dynasty of Mari

Main article: Mari, Syria

Many rulers are known from Mari, but different names are mentioned in the Sumerian king list.

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign
Anbu		30 years
Anba	“the son of Anbu”	17 years
Bazi	“the leatherworker”	30 years
Zizi of Mari	“the fuller”	20 years
Limer	“the ‘gudug’ priest”	30 years
Sharrum-iter		9 years
“Then Mari was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish.

Third dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Kug-Bau (Kubaba)	“the woman tavern-keeper, who made firm the foundations of Kish”	100 years	c. 24th century BC	The only known woman in the King List; said to have gained independence from En-anna-tum I of Lagash and En-shag-kush-ana of Uruk; contemporary with Puzur-Nirah of Akshak, according to the millennia later Weidner Chronicles.
“Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Akshak.

Dynasty of Akshak

See also: Akshak

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Comments
Unzi		30 years
Undalulu		6 years
Urur		6 years
Puzur-Nirah		20 years	Contemporary with Kug-Bau of Kish, according to the millennia later Weidner Chroncles. Note Puzur-Nirah (son of Puzur-Su’en) is also an eponym in the Old Assyrian period
Ishu-Il		24 years
Shu-Suen of Akshak	“the son of Ishu-Il”	7 years
“Then Akshak was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish.

Fourth dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Puzur-Suen	“the son of Kug-Bau“	25 years	c. 2350 BC
Ur-Zababa	“the son of Puzur-Suen”	400 (6?) years	c. 2350 BC	According to the king list, Sargon of Akkad was his cup-bearer
Zimudar		30 years
Usi-watar	“the son of Zimudar”	7 years
Eshtar-muti		11 years
Ishme-Shamash		11 years
(Shu-ilishu)*		(15 years)*
Nanniya	“the jeweller”	7 years
“Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)

Third dynasty of Uruk

Ruler		Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Lugal-zage-si			25 years	c. 2296–2271 BC	Said to have defeated Urukagina of Lagash, as well as Kish and other Sumerian cities, creating a unified kingdom; he in turn was overthrown by Sargon of Akkad
“Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Agade (Akkad)

Dynasty of Akkad

Main article: Akkadian Empire

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Sargon of Akkad	“whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, became king, the king of Agade, who built Agade”	40 years	c. 2270–2215 BC	Defeated Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, took over Sumer, and began the Akkadian Empire
Rimush of Akkad	“the son of Sargon”	9 years	c. 2214–2206 BC (
Manishtushu	“the older brother of Rimush, the son of Sargon”	15 years	c. 2205–2191 BC
Naram-Sin of Akkad	“the son of Man-ishtishu”	56 years	c. 2190–2154 BC
Shar-kali-sharri	“the son of Naram-Sin”	24 years	c. 2153–2129 BC (
“Then who was king? Who was not the king?
Irgigi Imi Nanum Ilulu		4 years	c. 2128–2125 BC
Dudu of Akkad		21 years	c. 2125–2104 BC
Shu-Durul	“the son of Dudu”	15 years	c. 2104–2083 BC	Akkad falls to the Gutians
“Then Agade was defeated and the kingship was taken to (Uruk).

Fourth dynasty of Uruk(Possibly rulers of lower Mesopotamia contemporary with the Dynasty of Akkad

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Ur-ningin		7 years	c. 2091? – 2061? BC (short)	Known from inscriptions.
Ur-gigir	“the son of Ur-ningin”	6 years		Known from inscriptions.
Kuda		6 years
Puzur-ili		5 years
Ur-Utu (or Lugal-melem)	(“the son of Ur-gigir”)*	25 years
“Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to the army of Gutium.

The Second dynasty of Lagash (before c. 2093–2046 BC (short)) is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions.

Gutian rule

Main article: Gutian Dynasty

Ruler	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
“In the army of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years.”
Inkišuš	6 years	c. 2147–2050 BC	Mention of the Gutian dynasty of Sumer in the tablet of Lugalanatum (𒄖𒋾𒌝𒆠, gu-ti-um^KI)
Sarlagab (or Zarlagab)	6 years
Shulme (or Yarlagash)	6 years
Elulmeš (or Silulumeš or Silulu)	6 years
Inimabakeš (or Duga)	5 years
Igešauš (or Ilu-An)	6 years
Yarlagab	3 years
Ibate of Gutium	3 years
Yarla (or Yarlangab)	3 years
Kurum	1 year
Apilkin	3 years
La-erabum	2 years		mace head inscription
Irarum	2 years
Ibranum	1 year
Hablum	2 years
Puzur-Suen	7 years		“the son of Hablum”
Yarlaganda	7 years		foundation inscription at Umma
Unknown	7 years		Si’um or Si-u? — foundation inscription at Umma
Tirigan	40 days		defeated by Utu-hengal of Uruk
“Then the army of Gutium was defeated and the kingship taken to Unug (Uruk).

Lagash Second Dynasty

Ruler	Proposed reign (middle chronology)	Notes
(Lugal-ushumgal)	c. 2230-2210 BC	Vassal of Akkadian Empire rulers Naram-Sin and Shar-Kali-Sharri
(Puzer-Mama)	c. 2210 BC	Wrested independence from the Akkadian Empire
Ur-Ningirsu	c. 2205 BC
Pirig-me	c. 2200 BC	Son of Ur-Ningirsu I.
Lu-Baba
Lugula
Kaku
Ur-Baba	c. 2164-2144 BC
Gudea	c. 2144-2124 BC	Son-in-law of Ur-baba
Ur-Ningirsu	c. 2124-2119 BC	Son of Gudea
Ur-gar	c. 2117-2113 BC
Nam-mahani	c. 2113-2110 BC	Grandson of Kaku, defeated by Ur-Nammu

Fifth dynasty of Uruk

Ruler		Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Utu-hengal			conflicting dates (427 years / 26 years / 7 years)	c. 2055–2048 BC	defeats Tirigan and the Gutians, appoints Ur-Namma governor of Ur

Third dynasty of Ur

Main article: Third dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Ur-Namma (Ur-Nammu)	“the son of Utu-Hengal”	18 years	c. 2047–2030 BC	defeats Nammahani of Lagash; contemporary of Utu-hengal of Uruk
Shulgi	“the son of Ur-Namma”	48 years	c. 2029–1982 BC	possible lunar/solar eclipse 2005 BC
Amar-Suena	“the son of Shulgi”	9 years	c. 1981–1973 BC
Shu-Suen	“the son of Amar-Suena”	9 years	c. 1972–1964 BC
Ibbi-Suen	“the son of Shu-Suen”	24 years	c. 1963–1940 BC
“Then Urim was defeated. The very foundation of Sumer was torn out. The kingship was taken to Isin.”

Dynasty of Isin

Main article: Dynasty of Isin

Independent Amorite states in lower Mesopotamia. The Dynasty of Larsa (c. 1961–1674 BC (short)) from this period is not mentioned in the King List.

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Ishbi-Erra		33 years	c. 1953–1920 BC	contemporary of Ibbi-Suen of Ur
Shu-Ilishu	“the son of Ishbi-Erra”	20 years
Iddin-Dagan	“the son of Shu-ilishu”	20 years
Ishme-Dagan	“the son of Iddin-Dagan”	20 years
Lipit-Eshtar	“the son of Ishme-Dagan (or Iddin-Dagan)”	11 years		contemporary of Gungunum of Larsa
Ur-Ninurta	(“the son of Ishkur, may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life”)*	28 years		Contemporary of Abisare of Larsa
Bur-Suen	“the son of Ur-Ninurta”	21 years
Lipit-Enlil	“the son of Bur-Suen”	5 years
Erra-imitti		8 years		He appointed his gardener, Enlil-Bani, substitute king and then suddenly died.
Enlil-bani		24 years		contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon. He was Erra-imitti’s gardener and was appointed substitute king, to serve as a scapegoat and then sacrificed, but remained on the throne when Erra－imitti suddenly died.
Zambiya		3 years		contemporary of Sin-Iqisham of Larsa
Iter-pisha		4 years
Ur-du-kuga		4 years
Suen-magir		11 years
(Damiq-ilishu)*	(“the son of Suen-magir”)*	(23 years)*

Fifth Uruk dynasty

Utu-hengal (Sumerian: 𒀭𒌓𒃶𒅅, ^Dutu-ḫe₂-g̃al₂), also written Utu-heg̃al, Utu-heĝal, and sometimes transcribed as Utu-hegal, Utu-hejal, Utu-Khengal, was one of the first native kings of Sumer after two hundred years of Akkadian and Gutian rule, and was at the origin of the foundation of the Third Dynasty of Ur by his son-in-law Ur-Nammu. He was officially “King of Uruk” in his inscriptions, and is therefore considered as the founder, and only member, of the “Fifth dynasty of Uruk” (Uruk V)

Third Dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Middle Chronology	Short Chronology
(Utu-hengal)	c. 2119 – c. 2112 BC	c. 2055 – c. 2048 BC
Ur-Nammu	c. 2112 – c. 2094 BC	c. 2048 – c. 2030 BC
Shulgi	c. 2094 – c. 2046 BC	c. 2030 – c. 1982 BC
Amar-Sin	c. 2046 – c. 2037 BC	c. 1982 – c. 1973 BC
Shu-Sin	c. 2037 – c. 2028 BC	c. 1973 – c. 1964 BC
Ibbi-Sin	c. 2028 – c. 2004 BC	c. 1964 – c. 1940 BC

Timeline of rulers Dynasty of Isin

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approximate dates	Comments
Ishbi-Erra		33 years	fl. c. 1953—1920 BCE	Ishbi-Erra and his successors appear on the Sumerian King List. Contemporary of Ibbi-Suen of Ur.
Shu-Ilishu	“the son of Ishbi-Erra”	20 years	fl. c. 1920—1900 BCE
Iddin-Dagan	“the son of Shu-ilishu”	21 years	fl. c. 1900—1879 BCE
Ishme-Dagan	“the son of Iddin-Dagan”	20 years	fl. c. 1879—1859 BCE
Lipit-Eshtar	“the son of Ishme-Dagan (or Iddin-Dagan)”	11 years	fl. c. 1859—1848 BCE	Contemporary of Gungunum of Larsa.
Ur-Ninurta	“the son of Ishkur, may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life”	28 years	fl. c. 1848—1820 BCE	Contemporary of Abisare of Larsa.
Bur-Suen	“the son of Ur-Ninurta”	21 years	fl. c. 1820—1799 BCE
Lipit-Enlil	“the son of Bur-Suen”	5 years	fl. c. 1799—1794 BCE
Erra-imitti		8 years	fl. c. 1794—1786 BCE	He appointed his gardener, Enlil-Bani, substitute king and then suddenly died.
Enlil-bani		24 years	fl. c. 1786—1762 BCE	Contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon. He was Erra-imitti’s gardener and was appointed substitute king, to serve as a scapegoat and then sacrificed, but remained on the throne when Erra－imitti suddenly died.
Zambiya		3 years	fl. c. 1762—1759 BCE	Contemporary of Sin-Iqisham of Larsa.
Iter-pisha		4 years	fl. c. 1759—1755 BCE
Ur-du-kuga		4 years	fl. c. 1755—1751 BCE
Suen-magir		11 years	fl. c. 1751—1740 BCE	Suen-magir appears as the last ruler on the Sumerian King List
(Damiq-ilishu)*	(“the son of Suen-magir”)*	(23 years)*	fl. c. 1740—1717 BCE

Kings of Larsa dynasty of larsa

Ruler	Reigned (short chronology)	Comments
Naplanum	c. 1961–1940 BC	Contemporary of Ibbi-Suen of the Third Dynasty of Ur
Emisum	c. 1940–1912 BC
Samium	c. 1912–1877 BC
Zabaia	c. 1877–1868 BC	“Zabaya, Chief of the Amorites, son of Samium, rebuilt the Ebabbar
Gungunum	c. 1868–1841 BC	Gained independence from Lipit-Eshtar of Isin
Abisare	c. 1841–1830 BC
Sumuel	c. 1830–1801 BC
Nur-Adad	c. 1801–1785 BC	Contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon
Sin-Iddinam	c. 1785–1778 BC	Son of Nur-Adad
Sin-Eribam	c. 1778–1776 BC	Son of Ga’eš-rabi
Sin-Iqisham	c. 1776–1771 BC	Contemporary of Zambiya of Isin, son of Sin-Eribam
Silli-Adad	c. 1771–1770 BC
Warad-Sin	c. 1770–1758 BC	Possible co-regency with Kudur-Mabuk, his father
Rim-Sin I	c. 1758–1699 BC	Contemporary of Irdanene of Uruk. Defeated by Hammurabi of Babylon, brother of Warad-Sin.
Hammurabi of Babylon	c. 1699–1686 BC	Official Babylonian rule
Samsu-iluna of Babylon	c. 1686–1678 BC	Official Babylonian rule
Rim-Sin II	c. 1678–1674 BC	Killed in revolt against Babylon

Portrait)	Name	Reign	Succession and notes
Old Assyrian period, 2025–1364 BC
Puzur-Ashur I Puzur-Aššur		Uncertain	Unclear succession, possibly first independent ruler of Assur
Shalim-ahum Šallim-aḫḫe		Uncertain	Son of Puzur-Ashur I
Ilu-shuma Ilu-šūma		Uncertain	Son of Shalim-ahum
	Erishum I Erišum	c. 1974 – 1935 BC (40 years)	Son of Ilu-shuma
Ikunum Ikūnum		c. 1934 – 1921 BC (14 years)	Son of Erishum I
	Sargon I Šarru-kīn	c. 1920 – 1881 BC (40 years)	Son of Ikunum
Puzur-Ashur II Puzur-Aššur		c. 1880 – 1873 BC (8 years)	Son of Sargon I
	Naram-Sin Narām-Sîn	c. 1872 – 1829/1819 BC (54 or 44 years)	Son of Puzur-Ashur II
Erishum II Erišum		c. 1828/1818 – 1809 BC (20 or 10 years)	Son of Naram-Sin

Shamshi-Adad dynasty (1808–1736 BC)

The dynasty founded by Shamshi-Adad I, who deposed the Puzur-Ashur dynasty, is conventionally known as the ‘Shamshi-Adad dynasty’, after its founder. During the rule of Shamshi-Adad I and his successors, of Amorite descent and originally from the south, a more absolute form of kingship, inspired by that of Babylon, was introduced in Assyria. During the preceding Puzur-Ashur dynasty, royal power in Assur had been more limited than in other cities, with inscriptions describing how the king worked in tandem with the city assembly to establish law and order. The earliest use of the term šarrum (king) in Assyrian inscriptions comes from Shamshi-Adad I’s reign. Shamshi-Adad I was also the first Assyrian king to assume the title ‘king of the Universe‘ though these styles fell into a long period of disuse again after his death. The short-lived realm founded by Shamshi-Adad I is sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of Upper Mesopotamia.

(Portrait)	Name	Reign	Succession and notes
	Shamshi-Adad I Šamši-Adad	c. 1808 – 1776 BC (33 years)	Amorite usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Ishme-Dagan I Išme-Dagān		c. 1775 – 1765 BC (11 years)	Son of Shamshi-Adad I
Mut-Ashkur Mut-Aškur		Uncertain	Son of Ishme-Dagan I
Rimush Rimuš		Uncertain	Uncertain relation
Asinum Asīnum		Uncertain	Grandson (?) of Shamshi-Adad I

Non-dynastic usurpers (1735–1701 BC)

Name	Reign	Succession and notes
Puzur-Sin Puzur-Sîn	Uncertain	Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Ashur-dugul Aššur-dugul	Uncertain (6 years)	Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Ashur-apla-idi Aššur-apla-idi	Uncertain	Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Nasir-Sin Nāṣir-Sîn		Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Sin-namir Sîn-nāmir		Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Ipqi-Ishtar Ipqi-Ištar		Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Adad-salulu Adad-ṣalulu		Usurper, unrelated to previous kings
Adasi Adasi		Usurper, unrelated to previous kings

Adaside dynasty (1700–722 BC)

The dynasty founded by Bel-bani, which ruled Assyria throughout most of its history, is conventionally known as the Adaside or Adasi dynasty, after Bel-bani’s father. In Babylonia, this dynasty of kings was called the “Baltil dynasty”, Baltil being the oldest portion of the city of Assur.


(Portrait)	Name	Reign	Succession and notes
Bel-bani Bēlu-bāni		c. 1700 – 1691 BC (10 years)	Son of Adasi
Libaya Libaia		c. 1690 – 1674 BC (17 years)	Son of Bel-bani
Sharma-Adad I Šarma-Adad		c. 1673 – 1662 BC (12 years)	Son of Libaya
Iptar-Sin Ibtar-Sîn		c. 1661 – 1650 BC (12 years)	Son of Sharma-Adad I
Bazaya Bāzā[y]a		c. 1649 – 1622 BC (28 years)	Son of Bel-bani
Lullaya Lulā[y]a		c. 1621 – 1616 BC (6 years)	Unrelated to other kings, possibly a usurper

Shu-Ninua^[k] Šu-Ninua		c. 1615 – 1602 BC (14 years)	Son of Bazaya
Sharma-Adad II Šarma-Adad		c. 1601 – 1599 BC (3 years)	Son of Shu-Ninua
Erishum III Erišum		c. 1598 – 1586 BC (13 years)	Son of Shu-Ninua
Shamshi-Adad II Šamši-Adad		c. 1585 – 1580 BC (6 years)	Son of Erishum III
Ishme-Dagan II Išme-Dagān		c. 1579 – 1564 BC (16 years)	Son of Shamshi-Adad II
Shamshi-Adad III Šamši-Adad		c. 1563 – 1548 BC (16 years)	Son of Shamshi-Adad II^[72]
Ashur-nirari I Aššur-nārāri		c. 1547 – 1522 BC (26 years)	Son of Ishme-Dagan II
Puzur-Ashur III Puzur-Aššur		c. 1521 – 1498 BC^[l] (24 years)	Son of Ashur-nirari I
Enlil-nasir I Enlīl-nāsir		c. 1497 – 1485 BC (13 years)	Son of Puzur-Ashur III
Nur-ili Nur-ili		c. 1484 – 1473 BC (12 years)	Son of Enlil-nasir I
Ashur-shaduni Aššur-šaddûni		c. 1473 BC (1 month)	Son of Nur-ili
Ashur-rabi I Aššur-rabi		c. 1472 – 1453 BC^[m] (20 years)	Son of Enlil-nasir I, usurped the throne from his nephew
Ashur-nadin-ahhe I Aššur-nādin-ahhē		c. 1452 – 1431 BC^[m] (22 years)	Son of Ashur-rabi I
Enlil-nasir II Enlīl-nāsir		c. 1430 – 1425 BC (6 years)	Son of Ashur-rabi I, usurped the throne from his brother
Ashur-nirari II Aššur-nārāri		c. 1424 – 1418 BC (7 years)	Son of Ashur-rabi I^[n]
Ashur-bel-nisheshu Aššūr-bēl-nīšēšu		c. 1417 – 1409 BC (9 years)	Son of Ashur-nirari II
Ashur-rim-nisheshu Aššūr-rem-nīšēšu		c. 1408 – 1401 BC (8 years)	Son of Ashur-nirari II
Ashur-nadin-ahhe II Aššur-nādin-ahhē		c. 1400 – 1391 BC (10 years)	Son of Ashur-rim-nisheshu
Eriba-Adad I Erība-Adad		c. 1390 – 1364 BC (27 years)	Son of Ashur-bel-nisheshu
Middle Assyrian Empire, 1363–912 BC
Ashur-uballit I Aššur-uballiṭ		c. 1363 – 1328 BC (36 years)	Son of Eriba-Adad I, first šar māt Aššur
Enlil-nirari Enlīl-nārāri		c. 1327 – 1318 BC (10 years)	Son of Ashur-uballit I
Arik-den-ili Arīk-den-ili		c. 1317 – 1306 BC (12 years)	Son of Enlil-nirari
Adad-nirari I Adad-nārārī		c. 1305 – 1274 BC (32 years)	Son of Arik-den-ili^[o]
Shalmaneser I Salmānu-ašarēd		c. 1273 – 1244 BC (30 years)	Son of Adad-nirari I
	Tukulti-Ninurta I Tukultī-Ninurta	c. 1243 – 1207 BC (37 years)	Son of Shalmaneser I
Ashur-nadin-apli Aššūr-nādin-apli		c. 1206 – 1203 BC^[p] (4 years)	Son of Tukulti-Ninurta I, usurped the throne from his father
Ashur-nirari III Aššur-nārāri		c. 1202 – 1197 BC (6 years)	Son of Ashur-nadin-apli
Enlil-kudurri-usur Enlīl-kudurri-uṣur		c. 1196 – 1192 BC (5 years)	Son of Tukulti-Ninurta I
Ninurta-apal-Ekur Ninurta-apal-Ekur		c. 1191 – 1179 BC^[q] (13 years)	Great-great-great-grandson of Adad-nirari I, usurped the throne from his distant cousin
Ashur-dan I Aššur-dān		c. 1178 – 1133 BC^[q] (46 years)	Son of Ninurta-apal-Ekur
Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur Ninurta-tukultī-Aššur		c. 1132 BC^[r] (less than a year)	Son of Ashur-dan I
Mutakkil-Nusku Mutakkil-Nusku		c. 1132 BC^[r] (less than a year)	Son of Ashur-dan I, usurped the throne from his brother
Ashur-resh-ishi I Aššur-rēša-iši		1132 – 1115 BC (18 years)	Son of Mutakkil-nusku
	Tiglath-Pileser I Tukultī-apil-Ešarra	1114 – 1076 BC (39 years)	Son of Ashur-resh-ishi I
Asharid-apal-Ekur Ašarēd-apil-Ekur		1075 – 1074 BC (2 years)	Son of Tiglath-Pileser I
Ashur-bel-kala Aššūr-bēl-kala		1073 – 1056 BC (18 years)	Son of Tiglath-Pileser I; a century-long period of decline followed Ashur-bel-kala’s death
Eriba-Adad II Erība-Adad		1055 – 1054 BC (2 years)	Son of Ashur-bel-kala
Shamshi-Adad IV Šamši-Adad		1053 – 1050 BC (4 years)	Son of Tiglath-Pileser I, usurped the throne from his nephew
Ashurnasirpal I Aššur-nāṣir-apli		1049 – 1031 BC (19 years)	Son of Shamshi-Adad IV
Shalmaneser II Salmānu-ašarēd		1030 – 1019 BC (12 years)	Son of Ashurnasirpal I
Ashur-nirari IV Aššur-nārāri		1018 – 1013 BC (6 years)	Son of Shalmaneser II
Ashur-rabi II Aššur-rabi		1012 – 972 BC (41 years)	Son of Ashurnasirpal I
Ashur-resh-ishi II Aššur-rēša-iši		971 – 967 BC (5 years)	Son of Ashur-rabi II
Tiglath-Pileser II Tukultī-apil-Ešarra		966 – 935 BC (32 years)	Son of Ashur-resh-ishi II
Ashur-dan II Aššur-dān		934 – 912 BC (23 years)	Son of Tiglath-Pileser II, began to reconquer the territory lost under his predecessors
Neo-Assyrian Empire, 911–609 BC
Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details and notes
Adad-nirari II Adad-nārārī		911 – 891 BC (21 years)	Son of Ashur-dan II
Tukulti-Ninurta II Tukultī-Ninurta		890 – 884 BC (7 years)	Son of Adad-nirari II
	Ashurnasirpal II Aššur-nāṣir-apli	884 – 859 BC (25 years)	Son of Tukulti-Ninurta II	Changed the Assyrian capital to Nimrud. Campaigned to the Mediterranean. First Assyrian king to make extensive use of reliefs. Died a natural death.
	Shalmaneser III Salmānu-ašarēd	859 – 824 BC (35 years)	Son of Ashurnasirpal II	Fully restored Assyia’s ancient borders, though there was again decline after his death. Died a natural death.
	Shamshi-Adad V Šamši-Adad	824 – 811 BC (13 years)	Son of Shalmaneser III, defeated his brother Ashur-danin-pal in a civil war	Conquered Babylon, though it became independent again in the reign of his son. Died relatively young in unclear circumstances.
	Adad-nirari III Adad-nārārī	811 – 783 BC (28 years)	Son of Shamshi-Adad V. Probably young at the time of his father’s death, his mother Shammuramat may have served as co-regent in his early reign.	Adad-nirari III’s late reign began an obscure period from which few sources survive and Assyrian officials wielded great power. Presumably died of natural causes.
Shalmaneser IV Salmānu-ašarēd		783 – 773 BC (10 years)	Son of Adad-nirari III	Fate unclear due to the lack of surviving sources
Ashur-dan III Aššur-dān		773 – 755 BC (18 years)	Son of Adad-nirari III	Fate unclear due to the lack of surviving sources
Ashur-nirari V Aššur-nārāri		755 – 745 BC^[s] (10 years)	Son of Adad-nirari III	Fate unclear due to the lack of surviving sources, possibly deposed and killed by Tiglath-Pileser III
	Tiglath-Pileser III Tukultī-apil-Ešarra	745 – 727 BC (18 years)	Son of either Adad-nirari III or Ashur-nirari V.^[t] Succeeded Ashur-nirari V in uncertain circumstances, either legitimately or through a coup or civil war.	Revitalized the Assyrian Empire and made it the supreme imperial and political power in the Near East. Conquered Babylon. Died a natural death.
	Shalmaneser V Salmānu-ašarēd	727 – 722 BC (5 years)	Son of Tiglath-Pileser III	Deposed and killed by Sargon II in a palace coup

Sargonid dynasty (722–609 BC)

Main article: Sargonid dynasty

Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details and notes
	Sargon II Šarru-kīn	722 – 705 BC (17 years)	Claimed to be a son of Tiglath-Pileser III, actual connections to previous royalty disputed. Seized the throne from Shalmaneser V in a palace coup.	Changed the Assyrian capital to Dur-Sharrukin. Killed in battle in Anatolia, fighting against Tabal.
	Sennacherib Sîn-aḥḥē-erība	705 – 681 BC (24 years)	Son of Sargon II	Changed the Assyrian capital to Nineveh. Murdered by his eldest son Arda-Mulissu, who hoped to seize power for himself.
	Esarhaddon Aššur-aḫa-iddina	681 – 669 BC (12 years)	Son of Sennacherib. After Sennacherib was killed by Arda-Mulissu, Esarhaddon had to fight a six-week-long civil war against his brother before he successfully assumed the throne.	Brought Assyria to its greatest ever extent. Plagued by illnesses throughout his life. Died of natural causes on his way to campaign against Egypt.
	Ashurbanipal Aššur-bāni-apli	669 – 631 BC (38 years)	Son of Esarhaddon. Ashurbanipal’s brother Shamash-shum-ukin inherited Babylonia, but after their civil war in 652–648 BC, Ashurbanipal strengthened his hold on the south as well.	Generally regarded as the last great Assyrian king. Fate unclear due to lack of surviving sources, probably died a natural death.
Aššur-etil-ilāni Aššur-etil-ilāni		631 – 627 BC (4 years)	Son of Ashurbanipal	Fate unclear due to the lack of surviving sources

	Sîn-šumu-līšir Sîn-šumu-līšir (usurper)	626 BC (3 months)	Prominent eunuch courtier and general. Influential under the reign of Aššur-etil-ilāni, rebelled upon the accession of Sîn-šar-iškun. Ruled only northern Babylonia.	The only eunuch to ever claim the throne of Assyria. Defeated by Sîn-šar-iškun.

Sîn-šar-iškun Sîn-šar-iškun		627 – 612 BC (15 years)	Son of Ashurbanipal, succeeded as king after Aššur-etil-ilāni’s death^[v]	Killed by the forces of the Babylonians and Medes at the fall of Nineveh
Aššur-uballiṭ II Aššur-uballiṭ		612 – 609 BC (3 years)	Possibly son of Sîn-šar-iškun. Organized resistance against the Medes and Babylonians at Harran. Formally ruling with the title of crown prince since he was unable to undergo traditional coronation at Assur.	Defeated by the Babylonians at the Siege of Harran, fate thereafter unknown