E'SARHADMON (Assyr. Asshur-ah-iddina, Asshur has given a brother). A King of Assyria who succeeded his father, Sennacherib, in B.C. 680. Ile had been placed over Babylonia during his father's lifetime, and by a special decree had been declared heir to the throne. in consequence perhaps of this favoritism shown to a son who was not the eldest. Sennaeherib was murdered by two of his sons, Sharezer and Adanualik (11. Kings six. 36-37). The Babylonian chronicle, however, makes mention of only one son as the assassin. Proclaiming himself Governor of Baby lonia, Esarhaddon set out in hot haste to avenge his father's death. The war, which is noted in the Babylonian chronicle as an interregnum, lasted less than a year, and at the end of that time Esarhaddon was able to declare himself King of Assyria. His reign of eleven years was full of military campaigns. He conducted success ful operations against the Chaldeans. In the west, Sidon was captured and razed to the ground.
Tyre he tried to take, but failed. llis most im portant enterprise was an attack upon Egypt. In two campaigns (me. 673 and 670) Egypt was taken and reorganized under Assyrian rule. it was Esarhaddon's misfortune that during his time began the series of attacks from the north which finally ended in the fall of Assyria (see ASSYRIA), hut he did all he could to check them. In a.c.668 Egypt rebelled, and he set out to chas tise the rebels, hut (lied on the way. He showed a great predilection for Babylonia, and, granting the people as much independence as was consist ent with the recognition of Assyrian supremacy, he planned the rebuilding of t he city, which had been destroyed in his father's lifetime, and re st oral it to its former glory. By his wish Sha mash-shum-ukin was made Governor of Baby lonia and Asurbanipal King of Assyria. Despite his numerous wars, lie found time for elaborate enterprises.