Nabopolassar

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Nabopolassar (Akkadian:Nabû-apal-usur) was the first king (ruled 625-605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian Empire^[1].

He rose into revolt against the Assyrian Empire (which had ruled Babylon for the previous 200 years) in 626 BC, after the last significant Assyrian king, Assur-bani-pal, died in 627 BC.

The weakened Assyrians couldn't resist his power and that of the Medes, who combined to sack the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 612 BC, at the Battle of Nineveh. Nabopolassar was left in control of Nineveh and destroyed the remnants of the Assyrian Empire in 609 BC.

Nabopolassar waged war against Egypt from 610 BC until his death.

In 605 BC, Nabopolassar took the Assyrian city of Harran, where Assyrian forces had retreated after the fall of Nineveh. Later that year, his son Nebuchadrezzar succeeded him to the throne of Babylonia and won the Battle of Carchemish, fought against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, shortly before Nabopolassar died.

[edit] References

1. ^ D. Brendan Nagle, The Ancient World: A Social and Cultural History, 6th ed., Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 58.

[edit] 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

Preceded by Kandalanu (possibly Ashurbanipal of Assyria, or else a viceroy)

King of Babylon 626–605 BC

Succeeded by Nebuchadnezzar II