Ashur-uballit II

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Ashur-uballit II (Aššur-uballiṭ II), was the last king of the Assyrian empire. He reigned in the capital city of Harran from 612 BC to 609 BC, having fled Nineveh during its attack by the Babylonian-Median army in 612 BC.

In alliance with a large Egyptian force, Ashuruballit's army was able to defend Harran from the combined Babylonian-Median attack for a brief period following the destruction of Nineveh; however, when the Egyptian army returned to their homeland in 610 BC, the Babylonians and Medians swept into Harran and plundered it.

Assyria called upon Egypt, who came to their assistance. King Josiah of Judah allied himself with Babylon and tried to block the way of the forces of Egypt under Pharaoh Necho II. Josiah was defeated at Meggido, and was killed in battle. Pharaoh Necho marched on and together with Ashur-uballit II, besieged Harran. They were defeated and the Egyptians retreated into northern Syria. Ashur-uballit II disappears from history, bringing an end to the Assyrian empire. It is probable that he was killed in this siege of Harran in 609 B.C.

While it is clear that he was a member of the Assyrian royal family, and that he was a general of the Assyrian army before declaring himself king, there is some disagreement as to whether or not Ashur-uballit II was the brother of Sinsharishkun who ruled the empire from 623 BC to 612 BC. He took his name from Ashur-uballit I, the Assyrian king who overthrew Mitannian domination in about 1330 BC, and began the Middle Assyrian empire (1330 BC-1076 BC).

Preceded by Sin-shar-ishkun

King of Assyria 612–609 BC

Succeeded by —