The next Babylonian king of whom we know anything of consequence is Nabonassar (747 734 a.c.), mentioned in the Canon of Ptolemy, as well as in the 'List of Kings) and the 'Baby lonian But from this time down to the rise of the new Babylonian empire, Baby lon was everywhere practically in the hands of Ass y ria, though there were some sanguinary struggles for the supremacy.
Sargon II, 722-705 B.C.— Tiglathpil e ser's successor was Shalmaneser V (727-722 'Lc.), about whom we know little, as none of his inscriptions have been found. He blockaded Tyre for five years, and on the treacherous re volt of Hoshea, King of Samaria, laid siege to that city (724 s.c.) but did not take it. His successor was Sargon II, whose first act was the capture of Samaria in 722 and the deporta tion of the Jewish captives to various parts of his empire. He overthrew the combined forces of Elam and Babylon. In 717 he besieged and captured the city of Carchemish belonging to the Hittites. This Sargon was a master ruler, who not only subdued and held in subjection the peoples on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, but also with indefatigable skill put down Merodach-baladan of Babylon and his at tempted conspiracy (cf. Isa. xxxix). Sargon's great home achievement was the construction of that colossal palace at Khorsabad, north northeast of Nineveh, that was first discovered by Botta in 1842, as already described.
Sennacherib, 705-680 B.C.— Sargon II was assassinated in his new palace at Khorsa bad in 705 s.c. and was succeeded by Senna cherib, his son. This vigorous ruler conducted at least three successful campaigns: (1) against the Westland: Syria, Phcenicia, and Palestine (701 s.c.), when he overran Judah, carried off 200,150 captives, threatened Jerusalem, making Hezekiah his subject, and met and, according to his own records, defeated an Egyptian army at Elteku; (2) in an expedition against Elam (693 s.c.) he was only partially successful, not quite reaching the capital, Susa; (3) in 689 he sacked, burned and practically destroyed the city of Babylon in revenge for the rebellious acts of its former ruler and inhabitants. Senna cherib removed the capital from Calah to Nineveh, and erected for himself a magnificent palace in that newly-made capital of the unified Assyrian-Babylonian empire. Other public
works of an extensive nature, such as walls, gates, moats, arsenals and water simply, were the objects of his energy. Sennacherib was murdered by one of his sons, according to the 'Babylonian Chronicle,) and was succeeded by Esarhaddon, his son, who was not implicated in the conspiracy.
Esarhaddon, 680-668 B.C.; Assurbanipal, 668-626 B.C.— Sennacherib's son, Esarhad don, made one of his residences at Babylon, carried on a successful warfare against the mountaineers to the north and northeast, and was the first Assyrian ruler to carry his con quests into Egypt. In 670 B.c. he crossed the frontier of that age-old land, took Memphis, and carried his arms as far as Thebes, driving the Ethiopian monarch of Egypt, Tirhaqa, back into his home land. He was the first king of Assyria who could add to his title, Egypt, Paturisi (biblical, (Pathros") and Kus (biblical, He associated with him on the throne his son Assurbanipal (669). In his list of 22 tribute-paying kings of the West land we find of Judah.' His suc cessor was his son, Assurbanipal (the 'Sar danapalus' of the Greeks, and of Ezra iv, 10). Egypt had revolted about the time of the death of Esarhaddon, and thus necessitated the early attention of Assurbanipal to hold it. He was completely successful, driv ing back the rebel Tirhaqa and re-establishing his authority over the whole land. A second expedition was required again in 663 s.c., when the land was completely reconquered and As syrian authority re-established. Very soon, however, Psammeticus of Egypt, with the help of foreign troops, threw off the yoke of As syria. Assurbanipal's great work was the con quest of Babylon and his rebellious brother Shamash-shum-ukin in 647 B.C. ; and, after sev eral terrific battles, the crushing of the power of the Elamites in 640 a.c., by the capture and destruction of their great capital, Susa. These colossal military achieventents Marked the cul mination of Assyria's career, for henceforth there was a rapid decline (see Assvatit). As surbanipal's notable contribution to the history of literature was his causing to be collected and copied for his royal library at Nineveh many of the most famous pieces of literature found in the libraries of Babylon. The last years of his reign are wrapped in obscurity.