List of kings of Babylon

The following is a list of the kings of Babylonia (ancient southern-central Iraq), compiled from the traditional Babylonian king lists and modern archaeological findings.

Contents

The Babylonian King List

The Babylonian King List is not merely a list of kings of Babylon, but is a very specific ancient list of supposed Babylonian kings recorded in several ancient locations, and related to its predecessor, the Sumerian King List. As in the latter, contemporaneous dynasties are listed chronologically without comment.

There are three versions, one known as "King List A"[1] (containing all the kings from the First Dynasty of Babylon to the Neo-Assyrian king Kandalanu) and "King List B"[2] (containing only the two first dynasties) and "King List C"[3] (containing the first seven kings of the Second Dynasty of Isin). A fourth version was written in Greek by Berossus. The "Babylonian King List of the Hellenistic Age" is a continuation that mentions all the Seleucid kings from Alexander the Great to Demetrius II Nicator.[4]

Middle Bronze Age

Early Amorite city-states

Kings of Larsa

Further information: Larsa
Ruler Reigned Comments
Naplanum ca. 1961–1940 BC Contemporary of Ibbi-Suen of Ur III
Emisum ca. 1940–1912 BC
Samium ca. 1912–1877 BC
Zabaia ca. 1877–1868 BC Son of Samium, First royal inscription
Gungunum ca. 1868–1841 BC Gutian king who Gained independence from Lipit-Eshtar of Isin
Abisare ca. 1841–1830 BC
Sumuel ca. 1830–1801 BC
Nur-Adad ca. 1801–1785 BC Contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon
Sin-Iddinam ca. 1785–1778 BC Son of Nur-Adad
Sin-Eribam ca. 1778–1776 BC
Sin-Iqisham ca. 1776–1771 BC Contemporary of Zambiya of Isin, Son of Sin-Eribam
Silli-Adad ca. 1771–1770 BC
Warad-Sin ca. 1770–1758 BC Possible co-regency with Kudur-Mabuk his father
Rim-Sin I ca. 1758–1699 BC Contemporary of Irdanene of Uruk, Defeated by Hammurabi of Babylon, Brother of Warad-Sin
Hammurabi of Babylon ca. 1699–1686 BC Official Babylonian rule, code of Hammurabi
Samsu-iluna of Babylon ca. 1686–1678 BC Official Babylonian rule
Rim-Sin II ca. 1678–1674 BC Killed in revolt against Babylon

Babylonian Empire (Middle Bronze Age)

First Dynasty of Babylon, (Amorite Dynasty)

Further information: First Dynasty of Babylon
Ruler Reigned Comments
Sumu-abum or Su-abu ca. 1830–1817 BC Amorite chieftain, founder of independent Babylonian State, Contemporary of Erishum I of Assyria
Sumu-la-El ca. 1817–1781 BC Contemporary of Ikunum of Assyria
Sabium or Sabum ca. 1781–1767 BC Son of Sumu-la-El
Apil-Sin ca. 1767–1749 BC Son of Sabium
Sin-muballit ca. 1748–1729 BC Son of Apil-Sin
Hammurabi ca. 1728–1686 BC Founded Babylonian Empire. Contemporary of Zimri-Lim of Mari, Siwe-palar-huppak of Elam and Shamshi-Adad I of Assyria
Samsu-iluna ca. 1686–1648 BC Son of Hammurabi
Abi-eshuh or Abieshu ca. 1648–1620 BC Son of Samsu-iluna
Ammi-ditana ca. 1620–1583 BC Son of Abi-eshuh
Ammi-saduqa or Ammisaduqa ca. 1582–1562 BC Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa
Samsu-Ditana ca. 1562–1531 BC Deposed by Hitite king Mursilis in the Sack of Babylon. Last Amorite ruler.

Sealand Dynasty (Dynasty II of Babylon)

Further information: Sealand Dynasty

These rulers may not have ruled Babylonia itself for more than the briefest of periods, but rather the formerly Sumerian regions south of it. Nevertheless, it is often traditionally numbered the Second Dynasty of Babylon, and so is listed here.

Ruler Reigned Comments
Ilum-ma-ili fl. ca. 1732 BC Contemporary of Samsu-iluna and Abi-ešuh
Itti-ili-nibi
Damqi-ilishu His city walls for Der demolished by Ammi-Ditana
Ishkibal
Shushushi
Gulkishar
mDIŠ+U-EN Contemporary of LIK.KUD-Šamaš (Assyria)
Peshgaldaramesh
Ayadaragalama May have ruled briefly over Babylon
Akurduana
Melamkurkurra
Ea-gamil fl. ca. 1460 BC Overthrown by Kassite Ulam Buriaš

Early Kassite Monarchs

Further information: Early Kassite rulers

This dynasty also did not actually rule Babylon, but their numbering scheme was continued by later Kassite Kings of Babylon, and so they are listed here.

Ruler Reigned Comments
Gandaš fl. ca. 1730 BC
Agum I Known as Maḫrû, "the first," or rabi, "the great."
Kaštiliašu I Son of Agum I *according to the Agum-Kakrime Inscription
Abi-Rattaš Son of Kaštiliašu I *; may occupy fifth place, then Ušši or Uššiašu may come here
Kaštiliašu II
Ur-zigurumaš Descendant of Abi-Rattaš *; alternative reading Tazzigurumaš
Ḫurbazum Tell Muḥammed level 3, alternatively Ḫarba-Šipak/Šihu
Šipta’ulzi Tell Muḥammed level 2, alternatively Tiptakzi

Late Bronze Age

Kassite Dynasty (Third Dynasty of Babylon)

Further information: Kassites
Ruler Reigned Comments
Agum II or Agum-Kakrime ca. 1507 BC
Burnaburiash I Treaty with Puzur-Ashur III of Assyria
Kashtiliash III
Ulamburiash Conquers the first Sealand dynasty
Agum III
Karaindash Contemporary of Amenophis III of Egypt
Kadashman-harbe I
Kurigalzu I
Kadashman-Enlil I ca. 1374–1360 BC Contemporary of Amenophis III of the Egyptian Amarna letters
Burnaburiash II ca. 1359–1333 BC Contemporary of Akhenaten and Ashur-uballit I
Kara-hardash ca. 1333 BC Grandson of Ashur-uballit I of Assyria
Nazi-Bugash or Shuzigash ca. 1333 BC Deposed by Ashur-uballit I of Assyria
Kurigalzu II ca. 1332–1308 BC Son of Burnaburiash II, Fought Battle of Sugagi with Enlil-nirari of Assyria
Nazi-Maruttash ca. 1307–1282 BC Contemporary of Adad-nirari I of Assyria
Kadashman-Turgu ca. 1281–1264 BC Contemporary of Hattusili III of the Hittites
Kadashman-Enlil II ca. 1263–1255 BC Contemporary of Hattusili III of the Hittites
Kudur-Enlil ca. 1254–1246 BC
Shagarakti-Shuriash ca. 1245–1233 BC Son of Kudur-Enlil
Kashtiliashu IV ca. 1232–1225 BC Deposed by Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyria
Enlil-nadin-shumi ca. 1224 BC Assyria installed governor under Tukulti-Ninurta I
Kadashman-Harbe II ca. 1223 BC Assyria installed governor under Tukulti-Ninurta I
Adad-shuma-iddina ca. 1222–1217 BC Assyria installed governor under Tukulti-Ninurta I
Adad-shuma-usur ca. 1216–1187 BC Contemporary of Ashur-nirari III of Assyria
Meli-Shipak II ca. 1186–1172 BC
Marduk-apla-iddina I ca. 1171–1159 BC
Zababa-shuma-iddin ca. 1158 BC
Enlil-nadin-ahi ca. 1157–1155 BC Deposed by Shutruk-Nahhunte of Elam, ending the Kassite Dynasty

Iron Age

Dynasty IV of Babylon, from Isin

The name of the dynasty, BALA PA.ŠE, is a paronomasia on the term išinnu, “stalk,” written as PA.ŠE and is the only apparent reference to the actual city of Isin.[5]

Ruler Reigned Comments
Marduk-kabit-ahheshu ca. 1155–1140 BC Founded first native Mesopotamian Dynasty in Babylon
Itti-Marduk-balatu ca. 1140–1132 BC
Ninurta-nadin-shumi ca. 1132–1126 BC
Nabu-kudurri-usur (Nebuchadnezzar I) ca. 1126–1103 BC Contemporary and rival of Ashur-resh-ishi I of Assyria
Enlil-nadin-apli ca. 1103–1100 BC Fought with Tiglath-Pileser I of Assyria
Marduk-nadin-ahhe ca. 1100–1082 BC Fought with Tiglath-Pileser I of Assyria
Marduk-shapik-zeri ca. 1082–1069 BC Entente cordial with Aššur-bêl-kala of Assyria
Adad-apla-iddina ca. 1069–1046 BC Married daughter to Aššur-bêl-kala of Assyria
Marduk-ahhe-eriba ca. 1046 BC
Marduk-zer-X ca. 1046–1033 BC
Nabu-shum-libur ca. 1033–1025 BC Dynasty ends with incursions of the Arameans

Dynasty V of Babylon

Known as the 2nd Sealand Dynasty, the evidence that this was a Kassite Dynasty is rather tenuous.[6]

Ruler Reigned Comments
Simbar-shipak ca. 1025–1008 BC Deposed native dynasty, assassinated by his successor
Ea-mukin-zeri ca. 1008 BC Usurper
Kashshu-nadin-ahi ca. 1008–1004 BC Distressed times and famine

Dynasty VI of Babylon

Known as the Bīt-Bazi Dynasty after the region from where this minor Kassite clan drew its ancestry.[7]

Ruler Reigned Comments
Eulmash-shakin-shumi ca. 1004 – 987 BC Founded Bīt-Bazi dynasty
Ninurta-kudurri-usur I ca. 987 – 985 BC
Shirikti-shuqamuna ca. 985 BC

Dynasty VII of Babylon

This was an Elamite Dynasty.

Ruler Reigned Comments
Mar-biti-apla-usur ca. 985 – 979 BC Elamite king who deposed the Arameans

Dynasty VIII of Babylon

Ruler Reigned Comments
Nabu-mukin-apli ca. 979 – 943 BC Native Babylonian dynasty

Dynasty IX of Babylon

Ruler Reigned Comments
Ninurta-kudurri-usur ca. 943 BC Founded new native Babylonian dynasty
Mar-biti-ahhe-iddina ca. 943 – 920 BC Contemporary of Ashur-Dan II of Assyria
Shamash-mudammiq ca. 920 – 900 BC lost territory to Adad-nirari II of Assyria
Nabu-shuma-ukin ca. 900 – 888 BC lost territory to Adad-nirari II of Assyria
Nabu-apla-iddina ca. 888 – 855 BC
Marduk-zakir-shumi I ca. 855 – 819 BC Subjugated by Shalmaneser III of Assyria
Marduk-balassu-iqbi ca. 819 – 813 BC Subjugated by Shalmaneser III of Assyria
Baba-aha-iddina ca. 813 – 811 BC Subjugated by Adad-nirari III of Assyria
5 kings ca. 811 – 800 BC Subjugated by Adad-nirari III of Assyria
Ninurta-apla-X ca. 800 – 790 BC Freed Babylonia from Assyrian influence
Marduk-bel-zeri ca. 790 – 780 BC
Marduk-apla-usur ca. 780 – 769 BC
Eriba-Marduk ca. 769 – 761 BC
Nabu-shuma-ishkun ca. 761 – 748 BC

From this point on, the Babylonian chronology is securely known via Ptolemy's Canon of Kings and other sources.
Nabu-nasir (Nabonassar) 748 – 734 BC Subjugated by Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria
Nabu-nadin-zeri 734 – 732 BC
Nabu-suma-ukin II 732 BC

Dynasty X of Babylon (Assyrian)

Further information: Neo-Assyrian Empire
Ruler Reigned Comments
Nabu-mukin-zeri 732 – 729 BC
Tiglath-Pileser III 729 – 727 BC Assyrian king
Shalmaneser V 727 – 722 BC Assyrian king
Marduk-apla-iddina II 722 – 710 BC A Chaldean king, (the Biblical Merodach-Baladan)
Sharrukin II (Sargon II) 710 – 705 BC Assyrian king
Sin-ahhe-eriba (Sennacherib) 705 – 703 BC Assyrian king
Marduk-zakir-shumi II 703 BC Assyrian vassal
Marduk-apla-iddina II 703 BC Chaldean ruler retook Babylon from Assyria during uprising
Bel-ibni 703 – 700 BC Assyrian vassal
Ashur-nadin-shumi 700 – 694 BC Assyrian king, son of Sennacherib
Nergal-ushezib 694 – 693 BC Elimite ruler, murdered Ashur-nadin-shumi
Mushezib-Marduk 693 – 689 BC Elamite ruler

Assyrian Sack of Babylon by Sennacherib , 689 BC; Babylon is rebuilt by Esarhaddon of Assyria in the 670s BC
Sin-ahhe-eriba (Sennacherib) 689 – 681 BC Assyrian king, destroted Babylon
Ashur-ahha-iddina (Esarhaddon) 681 – 669 BC Assyrian king, rebuilt Babylon
Shamash-shum-ukin 668 – 648 BC Assyrian king, son of Esarhaddon, rebelled against his brother, Ashurbanipal and was killed.
Kandalanu 648 – 627 BC Assyrian governor under Ashurbanipal, rumoured to have been Ashurbanipal himself, also governor under Ashur-etil-ilani of Assyria between 631 BC and 627 BC
Sin-shumu-lishir 626 BC Assyrian king, Ruled Babylon, but lost control over regions in Babylonia.
Sinsharishkun ca. 626 – 620 BC Assyrian king. Lost control over Babylonia in 620 BC.

Dynasty XI of Babylon (Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean Dynasty)

Further information: Neo-Babylonian Empire
Ruler Reigned Comments
Nabu-apla-usur (Nabopolassar) 626 – 605 BC Chaldean king. Took control of Babylonia from Sinsharishkun of Assyria, ejected Assyrian armies from Babylonia in 616 BC. Entered into alliance with Cyaxares and destroyed Assyrian empire.
Nabu-kudurri-usur (Nebuchadnezzar II) 605 – 562 BC Chaldean king. Defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians at Carchemish
Amel-Marduk 562 – 560 BC
Nergal-shar-usur (Nergal-sharezer/Neriglissar) 560 – 556 BC
Labashi-Marduk 556 BC
Nabu-na'id (Nabonidus) 556 – 539 BC Last Mesopotamian king of Babylon, originated in Harran in Assyria. Was not a Chaldean, often left rule to his son Belshazzar.
Cyrus II of Persia 539 – 529 BC

Achaemenid Babylonia

Further information: Persian Mesopotamia and Achaemenid Empire

In 539 BC, Babylon was captured by Cyrus II of Persia. His son was crowned one year later formally as King of Babylonia

Ruler Reigned Comments
Cambyses II 529 – 522 BC son of Cyrus the Great
Smerdis (Bardiya) 522 BC (Possibly a usurper) alleged son of Cyrus the Great
Darius I of Persia the Great 521 – 486 BC brother-in-law of Smerdis and grandson of Arsames
Xerxes I of Persia 485 – 465 BC son of Darius I
Artaxerxes I of Persia Longimanus 465 – 424 BC son of Xerxes I
Xerxes II of Persia 424 BC son of Artaxerxes I
Sogdianus of Persia 424 – 423 BC half-brother and rival of Xerxes II
Darius II of Persia Nothus 423 – 405 BC half-brother and rival of Xerxes II
Artaxerxes II of Persia Mnemon 404 – 359 BC (see also Xenophon) son of Darius II
Artaxerxes III of Persia Ochus 358 – 338 BC son of Artaxerxes II
Arses of Persia (Artaxerxes IV) 338 – 336 BC son of Artaxerxes III
Darius III of Persia Codomannus 336 – 330 BC great-grandson of Darius II

Seleucid Babylonia

Further information: Seleucid Empire

Babylon was captured by Alexander III of Macedon in 330 BC. It was captured by the Parthians in 141 BC.

Ruler Reigned Comments
Alexander the Great 330 – 323 BC
Alexander IV of Macedon 323 – 309 BC
Seleucus I Nicator Satrap 311 – 305 BC, King 305 – 281 BC
Antiochus I Soter co-ruler from 291, ruled 281 – 261 BC
Antiochus II Theos 261 – 246 BC
Seleucus II Callinicus 246 – 225 BC
Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter) 225 – 223 BC
Antiochus III the Great 223 – 187 BC
Seleucus IV Philopator 187 – 175 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175 – 164 BC
Antiochus V Eupator 164 – 162 BC
Demetrius I Soter 161 – 150 BC
Alexander I Balas 150 – 145 BC
Demetrius II Nicator first reign, 145 – 141 BC

See also

References

  1. ^ BM 33332.
  2. ^ BM 38122.
  3. ^ The text is in a private collection and was published in: Arno Poebel (1955). "Second Dynasty of Isin According to a New King-List Tablet". Assyriological studies (University of Chicago Press) (15). 
  4. ^ Meissner, Bruno (1990). Reallexikon der Assyriologie. 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. p. 90. ISBN 3110100517. http://books.google.com/books?id=OIeiZaIo91IC&printsec=frontcover&cad=0#PPA90,M1. 
  5. ^ J. A. Brinkman (1999). Dietz Otto Edzard. ed. Reallexikon Der Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatischen Archaologie: Ia – Kizzuwatna. 5. Walter De Gruyter. pp. 183—184. 
  6. ^ Bruno Meissner (1999). Dietz Otto Edzard. ed. Reallexikon Der Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatischen Archaologie: Meek - Mythologie. Walter De Gruyter. p. 8.  “The Kassite name of Simbar-Šipak, the Kassite derived theothoric element (dKaššû = “the Kassite (god)”) in the name of the third king, and the tribal affiliation of the second monarch could suggest that this dynasty represented a revival of Kassite power following the native Babylonian rulers of the Second Dynasty of Isin; but the evidence at present must be regarded as tenuous.”
  7. ^ J. A. Brinkman (1982). "Babylonia, c. 1000 – 748 B.C.". In John Boardman, I. E. S. Edwards, N. G. L. Hammond, E. Sollberger. The Cambridge Ancient History (Volume 3, Part 1). Cambridge University Press. pp. 296–297.