Nabopolassar
Encyclopedia
Nabopolassar (c.658 BC - 605 BC) was the king of the Babylonia
and played a key role in the demise of the Assyrian Empire following the death of the last powerful Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal
. He ruled over Babylon for 20 years (625 - 605 BC).
died some time between 631 BC and 627 BC. Following his successful revolt, he took on the title of King of Babylonia.
ns and Medes
, who combined to sack the Assyrian capital of Nineveh
in 612 BC, following the Battle of Nineveh
which involved a prolonged siege of the city. Nabopolassar was left in control of Nineveh. His army and its allies destroyed the remnants of the Assyrian army at Carchemish
in 605 BC.
from 610 BC until his death. In 608 BC, Nabopolassar took the Assyrian city of Harran
, where Assyrian forces had retreated after the fall of Nineveh
. Later that year, his son Nebuchadnezzar fought against the Pharaoh Necho II
of Egypt, shortly before Nabopolassar died.
in 605 BC, Nebopolassar died of natural causes. He was about 53 years old.
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
and played a key role in the demise of the Assyrian Empire following the death of the last powerful Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal
Ashurbanipal
Ashurbanipal |Ashur]] is creator of an heir"; 685 BC – c. 627 BC), also spelled Assurbanipal or Ashshurbanipal, was an Assyrian king, the son of Esarhaddon and the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire...
. He ruled over Babylon for 20 years (625 - 605 BC).
Rise to Power
Nabopolassar rose in revolt against the Assyrian Empire (which had ruled Babylon for the previous 200 years), after the last effective Assyrian king, AshurbanipalAshurbanipal
Ashurbanipal |Ashur]] is creator of an heir"; 685 BC – c. 627 BC), also spelled Assurbanipal or Ashshurbanipal, was an Assyrian king, the son of Esarhaddon and the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire...
died some time between 631 BC and 627 BC. Following his successful revolt, he took on the title of King of Babylonia.
Destruction of Assyria
Assyria, weakened by internal strife and ineffectual rule following the death of Ashurbanipal, was unable to resist the alliance of ChaldeaChaldea
Chaldea or Chaldaea , from Greek , Chaldaia; Akkadian ; Hebrew כשדים, Kaśdim; Aramaic: ܟܐܠܕܘ, Kaldo) was a marshy land located in modern-day southern Iraq which came to briefly rule Babylon...
ns and Medes
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
, who combined to sack the Assyrian capital of Nineveh
Nineveh
Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, and capital of the Neo Assyrian Empire. Its ruins are across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq....
in 612 BC, following the Battle of Nineveh
Battle of Nineveh (612 BC)
The Battle of Nineveh was fought in 612 BC. It witnessed the Assyrian capital of Nineveh being besieged, conquered, and sacked by allied forces of Medes, Scythians, Babylonians and Susianians. King Sin-shar-ishkun of Assyria was killed in the sack.From then on, the Neo-Babylonian Empire ruled the...
which involved a prolonged siege of the city. Nabopolassar was left in control of Nineveh. His army and its allies destroyed the remnants of the Assyrian army at Carchemish
Carchemish
Carchemish or Kargamış was an important ancient city of the Mitanni, Hittite and Neo Assyrian Empires, now on the frontier between Turkey and Syria. It was the location of an important battle between the Babylonians and Egyptians, mentioned in the Bible...
in 605 BC.
Other Campaigns
Nabopolassar waged war against EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
from 610 BC until his death. In 608 BC, Nabopolassar took the Assyrian city of Harran
Harran
Harran was a major ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia whose site is near the modern village of Altınbaşak, Turkey, 24 miles southeast of Şanlıurfa...
, where Assyrian forces had retreated after the fall of Nineveh
Nineveh
Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, and capital of the Neo Assyrian Empire. Its ruins are across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq....
. Later that year, his son Nebuchadnezzar fought against the Pharaoh Necho II
Necho II
Necho II was a king of the Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt .Necho II is most likely the pharaoh mentioned in several books of the Bible . The Book of Kings states that Necho met King Josiah of the Kingdom of Judah at Megiddo and killed him...
of Egypt, shortly before Nabopolassar died.
Later years
Once his forces had defeated the Assyrians and their Egyptian allies, Nebopolassar gave up the throne in favour of his son, Nebuchadnezzar II. Within months of his abdicationAbdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
in 605 BC, Nebopolassar died of natural causes. He was about 53 years old.
External links
- ABC 2: Chronicle Concerning the Early Years of Nabopolassar
- ABC 3: Chronicle Concerning the Fall of Nineveh
- ABC 4: Chronicle Concerning the Late Years of Nabopolassar
- Nabopolassar Cylinder