Ekallatum
Encyclopedia
Ekallatum was an ancient Assyrian city of upper Mesopotamia
. The exact location of it has not yet been identified, but it was located somewhere along the left bank of the Tigris
, south of Assur
.
Ekallatum, whose name means "the palace," was the capitol of an Amorite
dynasty related to Assyria
, which was important in the 19th and 18th centuries BCE period. The history of upper Mesopotamia in this period is documented in the archives of Mari, Syria
.
Its first known king was Ila-kabkabu
, who seems to have entered into a conflict with Iagitlim
of Mari. His son Shamshi-Adad I
ascended to the throne around 1810 BCE, continuing the conflict and attempting to extend into the valley along the Khabur River
. His expansion was halted by Iagitlim's son, Iakhdunlim
, and he was soon after defeated by Naram-Sin of Eshnunna, which caused him to flee to Babylon
. He returned upon Naram-Sin's death. Soon thereafter, a series of military victories by Shamshi-Adad followed, and he seized all of Upper Mesopotamia, usurping Erishum II
as king of Assyria
. He founded his own capital at Shubat-Enlil, entrusting Ekallatum to his elder son Ishme-Dagan
. (His other son, Yasmah-Adad
, was placed on the throne of Mari at the time.) Ishme-Dagan appears to have been a capable military leader, but when his father died in around 1775, he proved unable to maintain the whole kingdom; nonetheless, he kept Ekallatum, while his brother lost Mari and was killed.
The reign of Ishme-Dagan was chaotic. Unable to restore power to the city despite his many attempts, he was the target of nearby warlords, in particular, Zimrilim
of Mari. When the Elamites took Ekatallum in 1765, he sought refuge with his traditional ally -- Hammurabi
of Babylon -- who helped him take back the throne. Consequently, Ekatallum became a vassal city
subservient to the king of Babylon, who came to control all of Mesopotamia. With the death of Ishme-Dagan, his son Mut-Ashkur succeeded him. He was the last known king of Ekallatum, and the city disappeared thereafter from Mesopotamian history. Mut-Ashkur
is listed as king of Assyria
, and it would appear that Ekallatum was absorbed by Assyria.
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. The exact location of it has not yet been identified, but it was located somewhere along the left bank of the Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
, south of Assur
Assur
Assur , was one of the capitals of ancient Assyria. The remains of the city are situated on the western bank of river Tigris, north of the confluence with the tributary Little Zab river, in modern day Iraq, more precisely in the Al-Shirqat District .Assur is also...
.
Ekallatum, whose name means "the palace," was the capitol of an Amorite
Amorite
Amorite refers to an ancient Semitic people who occupied large parts of Mesopotamia from the 21st Century BC...
dynasty related to Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
, which was important in the 19th and 18th centuries BCE period. The history of upper Mesopotamia in this period is documented in the archives of Mari, Syria
Mari, Syria
Mari was an ancient Sumerian and Amorite city, located 11 kilometers north-west of the modern town of Abu Kamal on the western bank of Euphrates river, some 120 km southeast of Deir ez-Zor, Syria...
.
Its first known king was Ila-kabkabu
Ila-kabkabu
Ila-kabkabu was a local king in Assyria during the late 19th century BC. His ancestors were probably Semitic nomads. He was at one point allied with the neighbouring king Iagitlim of Mari, but this alliance later fell apart and they came into open conflict. Ila-kabkabu was the father of the famous...
, who seems to have entered into a conflict with Iagitlim
Iagitlim
Iagitlim was king of Mari, Syria during the 19th century BC. He was probably of Amorite origin. Little is known about his reign except that he come in conflict with his neigbhour Ila-kabkabu after the two first had been allies. Iagitlim was succeeded by his son Iakhdunlim....
of Mari. His son Shamshi-Adad I
Shamshi-Adad I
Shamshi-Adad I Shamshi-Adad I Shamshi-Adad I (fl. late 18th century BC (short chronology) was an Assyrian king. He rose to prominence when he carved out an empire encompassing much of Mesopotamia, Syria and Asia Minor...
ascended to the throne around 1810 BCE, continuing the conflict and attempting to extend into the valley along the Khabur River
Khabur River
The Khabur River , , , ) is the largest perennial tributary to the Euphrates in Syrian territory. Although the Khabur originates in Turkey, the karstic springs around Ra's al-'Ayn are the river's main source of water. Several important wadis join the Khabur north of Al-Hasakah, together creating...
. His expansion was halted by Iagitlim's son, Iakhdunlim
Iakhdunlim
Iakhdunlim was king of Mari in Upper Mesopotamia during the 19th century BC. Of Amorite origin, he became king after the death of his father Iagitlim. Iakhdunlim built Mari up to become one of the major powers of the region. He led a successful campaign to the coast of the Mediterranean...
, and he was soon after defeated by Naram-Sin of Eshnunna, which caused him to flee to Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
. He returned upon Naram-Sin's death. Soon thereafter, a series of military victories by Shamshi-Adad followed, and he seized all of Upper Mesopotamia, usurping Erishum II
Erishum II
Erishum II was the King of Assyria from 1815 BC to 1809 BC. After reigning only for 6 years, he was overthrown by Shamshi-Adad I.-See also:*Assyria...
as king of Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
. He founded his own capital at Shubat-Enlil, entrusting Ekallatum to his elder son Ishme-Dagan
Ishme-Dagan
Ishme-Dagan I was the son of the Assyrian king Shamshi-Adad I, put on throne of Ekallatum by his father after a successful military attack. He ruled the area of the upper Tigris, including the city-state of Assur. Following Shamshi-Adad's death , Ishme-Dagan I managed to rule Assyria until himself...
. (His other son, Yasmah-Adad
Yasmah-Adad
Yasmah-Adad was the son of the Amorite king Shamshi-Adad I, put on throne of Mari by his father after a successful military attack. After Shamshi-Adad's death he managed to rule for only a short time before being ousted from power by Zimrilim. His brother, Ishme-Dagan, ruled at the same time in the...
, was placed on the throne of Mari at the time.) Ishme-Dagan appears to have been a capable military leader, but when his father died in around 1775, he proved unable to maintain the whole kingdom; nonetheless, he kept Ekallatum, while his brother lost Mari and was killed.
The reign of Ishme-Dagan was chaotic. Unable to restore power to the city despite his many attempts, he was the target of nearby warlords, in particular, Zimrilim
Zimrilim
Zimrilim was king of Mari from about 1775 to 1761 BCE.He was the son or grandson of Iakhdunlim, but was forced to flee to Yamkhad when his father was assassinated by his own servants during a coup. The city was occupied by Shamshi-Adad I, the king of Assur, who put his own son Yasmah-Adad on the...
of Mari. When the Elamites took Ekatallum in 1765, he sought refuge with his traditional ally -- Hammurabi
Hammurabi
Hammurabi Hammurabi Hammurabi (Akkadian from Amorite ʻAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer", from ʻAmmu, "paternal kinsman", and Rāpi, "healer"; (died c...
of Babylon -- who helped him take back the throne. Consequently, Ekatallum became a vassal city
Vassal state
A vassal state is any state that is subordinate to another. The vassal in these cases is the ruler, rather than the state itself. Being a vassal most commonly implies providing military assistance to the dominant state when requested to do so; it sometimes implies paying tribute, but a state which...
subservient to the king of Babylon, who came to control all of Mesopotamia. With the death of Ishme-Dagan, his son Mut-Ashkur succeeded him. He was the last known king of Ekallatum, and the city disappeared thereafter from Mesopotamian history. Mut-Ashkur
Mut-Ashkur
Mut-Ashkur was the king of Assyria from 1730 BC to 1720 BC. He was the son and successor of Ishme-Dagan. His father arranged for him to marry the daughter of the Hurrian king Zaziya....
is listed as king of Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
, and it would appear that Ekallatum was absorbed by Assyria.