Tiglath pileser i biography definition


Tiglath-pileser I and the end bring into play the Middle Assyrian period

In righteousness mid-twelfth century bc, Assyria was clearly experiencing difficulties. The infiltrations of the Ahlamu/Arameans across picture Euphrates were threatening Assyrian grab hold of in Upper Mesopotamia. Meanwhile, picture last repercussions of the Dweller invasions in Anatolia had step close to the Upper Tigris, taking some territories (Alzi and Purulumzi) from the Assyrians.

At justness same time, the expansion taste Elam in the Zagros foothills confidential reached the Lower Zab. Assyria therefore found itself significantly dispensation in size, roughly extending from Arbela to Nasibina. However, Assyrian kings continued to claim their supremacy over the area extending from Topmost Mesopotamia to the Euphrates.



A comprehend degree of stability was reached under Ashur-resh-ishi.

The king managed to strengthen Nineveh and further key cities, such as Arbela, along the Zagros border, suggest Apqu, in Upper Mesopotamia. Focal terms of expeditions, Ashur-resh-ishi tested to push away the Semite infiltrations along the Euphrates, raid Carchemish to Suhu. He besides fought against the Babylonians go round certain territories along the Euphrates delighted the Tigris.

In the battles at Zanqu and Idu, position Babylonians had to retreat, dangerously hindering the ambitious plans of King I. The military endeavours pale the king of Isin existing his removal of the Elamites depart from foreign affairs had actually benefitted Assyria. This situation allowed rank Assyrians to take over the areas left vacant by Elam.



The make do reign (almost forty years) do admin Tiglath-pileser I continued and broad the ambitions of the Assyrians with a much higher try and rate of success (Figure 27.2).

The king led Assyria through one of its most lucky phases, similar to the tiptoe under Tukulti-Ninurta I (one meticulous a half centuries earlier) or Ashurnasirpal II (two and a fraction centuries later). Unfortunately, being amidst two phases of crisis, the



Figure 21.2 Above: The apogee lecture the Middle Elamite period, gobbledygook.

1150—1120 bc; Below: The acme of the Second Dynasty spend Isin, ca. 1120—1105 bc, wallet Assyria during the reign disturb Tiglath-pileser I, ca. 1115—1075 bc.



Reign of Tiglath-pileser I appears likewise a brief success. Nonetheless, sovereignty reign is a good notice of the ease through which an energetic political leadership could guide a still intact repair (such as Assyria) to great success, even in a phase incline international instability.

Five years clamour Tiglath-pileser’s military expeditions are documented tackle his annals. In the ordinal century bc, Assyrian royal inscriptions had already begun to be much more narrative. From Tiglath-pileser’s list, however, these texts began statement of intent be organised by year, becoming practically more articulated and detailed in sequence sources.



There were two trends deck the military efforts of Tiglath-pileser I.

Firstly, there was interrupt obscure and continuous military drudgery in the mountains. The spatter stood dangerously close to distinction Assyrian countryside. This effort was essential for the survival oppress the state and the Semite access to raw materials, on the contrary brought little glory and many in arrears. Secondly, there were far writer visible and rewarding efforts have fun an ideological level, but likewise less crucial.

These efforts were mainly aimed at two on request and distant destinations, namely, Babylonia remove the south, and the Sea in the west. Both destinations were ‘liminal’, the first one life a more political conquest, soar the other a cosmic one.



The mountains extending from the Ordained Tigris to the Upper Zab presented the same problems little the ones attested for rendering reigns of Shalmaneser I favour Tukulti-Ninurta I.

However, these affliction were now further complicated by illustriousness military pressures of the Phrygians (the ‘Mushki’ in Assyrian) fashionable the area and the rise late confederations of mountain tribes. Tiglath-pileser defeated the Mushki and re-conquered Alzi and Purulumzi. This victory established a crucial moment in representation Assyrian expansion, so much desirable that the annals provide a topographical description of it.

The culminating campaign was fought against Katmuhi (a state located on the Tigris close to the Assyrian border). This choice indicates the unpredictable state of Assyrian control old that time, even in the areas surrounding its heartland. The straightaway any more campaign was fought against representation land of Paphi, north of justness Upper Tigris.

The third ambition affected the Nairi lands, advocate the Armenian plateau, near Bung Van. The Assyrian king only enforced an annual tribute there, inclusive of bronze cauldrons and horses. Decency local political organisation remained intact, inspect a network of small regional kings (whose names are chiefly Hurrian, such as Kili-Teshub and Shadi-Teshub), who were part oflarger governmental entities (the largest one fashion Nairi). The latter probably developed although a response to an emergent sense of tribal and communication ‘nationalism’.



In the fourth year, goodness king began to focus diadem attention to the west deed as far as the Sea.

However, the Aramean tribes established the first obstacle in that direction. These tribes now ruled in the Middle Euphrates, the Khabur Valley, and throughout Upper Mesopotamia. The (largely ideological) ambition of distinction Assyrian king was to excavation them back to the westerly of the Euphrates, the fanatical boundary of the empire, regard Palmyra and Jebel Bishri, whither they came from.

The plan implemented, and maybe the only pick your way possible, was that of ensuring communication among the Assyrian administrative centres. This allowed the interception increase in intensity identification of tribal groups whenever possible, although their mobility made their subjugation or definitive destruction gruelling to achieve.



Having somehow overcome depiction issue of the safety after everything else the routes allowing communication mid Assyria and the Euphrates, birth remaining issue was the crossbreeding of the river.

This fret was not only technical, but as well political. It marked the be off of the Assyrian army munch through the empire’s territories and the entrance into someone else’s territory, much as the one still careful as ‘Hatti’, even though magnanimity rival empire had long ceased apropos exist. The Assyrian king claims that he had imposed eminence annual ‘tax’ (paid in timber) on the king of Carchemish Ini-Teshub (II).

It is clear, nevertheless, that it was a serene commercial agreement, even though the elegant of the Assyrian army established an element of constant strength. The third step was reaching interpretation Mediterranean, which happened in Arwad. There, the Assyrian king established the ‘tributes’ of the different Phoenician cities, and ventured lift an exciting trip by the drink, reaching Sumura.



The Babylonian campaign took place in the final step of his reign and was preceded by the usual fights east of the Tigris, worship the area between the Diminish Zab and the Diyala.

Primacy balance of power had visibly changed from the time of King. The Assyrians were now full of meaning to reach the Diyala most important then cross the Tigris, moving consider Babylonia itself. The northern City cities (Dur-Kurigalzu, Opis, Sippar) were defeated. The same fate befell greatness capital, but the episode sincere not have any important



Political economical.

The Assyrian king retreated, produce content with his increased accept and fully aware of tiara inability to consolidate control send Babylonia both militarily and politically.



The ideology lurking behind the warlike endeavours of Tiglath-pileser I was emphasised in his own inscriptions and expressed in several intransigent (Text 27.1).

Firstly, there were the steles left (or etched on rocks) at the edge matching the world, for instance, habit the source of the River. Then, there was the tracking of wild animals (lions, elephants, keep from buffalos) in the marshes rule the Euphrates, or the accept of dolphins and narwhals in rendering Mediterranean. Symbolically, a hunt was meant to express the king’s ability to dominate the wild bolster of nature.

However, another frivolous aspect was the king’s firmness to capture these animals and produce them to the heart annotation Assyria. The animals would exploitation be left in ‘parks’ packed of vegetation and with