Fragmentation of the Empire Samsu-iluna

map showing babylonian territory upon hammurabi s ascension in c. 1792 bce , upon death in c. 1750 bce

in 9th year of samsu-iluna s reign man calling himself rim-sin (known in literature rim-sin ii, , thought perhaps nephew of rim-sin opposed hammurabi) raised rebellion against babylonian authority in larsa spread include 26 cities, among them uruk, ur, isin , kisurra in south, , eshnunna. in north.

samsu-iluna seems have had upper-hand militarily. within year dealt coalition shattering blow took northern cities out of fight. in aftermath king of eshnunna, iluni, dragged babylon , executed strangulation. on course of next 4 years, samsu-iluna s armies tangled rim-sin s forces , down borderlands between babylon, sumer , elam. samsu-iluna attacked ur, pulled down walls , put city sack, did same uruk, , isin well. larsa defeated , rim-sin ii killed, ending struggle.

unfortunately floodgates had opened. few years later, pretender calling himself ilum-ma-ili, , claiming descent last king of isin, raised pan-sumerian revolt. samsu-iluna marched army sumer, , 2 met in battle proved indecisive; second battle sometime later went ilum-ma-ili s way, , in aftermath, founded first dynasty of sea-land,, remain in control of sumer next 300 years. samsu-iluna seems have taken defensive approach after this; in 18th year of reign, saw rebuilding of 6 fortresses in vicinity of nippur, might have been intended keep city under babylonian control. ultimately, proved fruitless; time of samsu-iluna s death, nippur recognized ilum-ma-ili king.

apparently, eshnunna had not reconciled babylonian control either, because in samsu-iluna s 20th year rebelled again. samsu-iluna marched army through region and, presumably after bloodshed, constructed fortress of dur-samsuiluna keep them in line. seems have done trick, later documents see samsu-iluna take more conciliatory stance repairing infrastructure , restoring waterways.

as if weren t enough, both assyria , elam used general chaos re-assert independence. kuturnahunte of elam, seizing opportunity left samsu-iluna s attack on uruk, marched (now wall-less) city , plundered it, among items looted statue of inanna wouldn t returned until reign of ashurbanipal 11 centuries later. in assyria, native vice regent named puzur-sin ejected asinum had been vassal king of fellow amorite hammurabi. native king ashur-dugul seized throne, , period of civil war in assyria ensued. samsu-iluna seems have been powerless intervene, , king named adasi, restored stable native dynasty in assyria, removing vestages of amorite-babylonian influence

in end, samsu-iluna left kingdom fractionally larger 1 father had started out 50 years prior (but did leave him mastery of euphrates , including ruins of mari , dependencies). status of eshnunna difficult determine accuracy, , while may have remained in babylonian hands city exhausted , political influence @ end.

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