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Chronology of the ancient Near East

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Introduction

The chronology of the Ancient Near East is divided into three parts

1) A list of rulers and dynasties whose existence is based mostly on the Sumerian King List, later versions of literature such as Gilgamesh, and bits and pieces of archaeological discoveries. Some of these early rulers are possibly mythical, but many, like En-me-barage-si have been attested to by inscriptions. The dynasties of this period are divided into those "before the flood" and those "after the flood". There is geologic evidence that a major flood occurred in the Tigris and Euphrates basin circa 3000 BC.

2) Beginning with the Akkadian Empire around 2300 BC, the chronological evidence firms up, with various overlapping and interacting dynasties reasonably well attested to in the archaeological record. Essentially, for this period, a good picture can be drawn of who ruled after who, more or less how long they ruled, and how dynasties interacted with each other in battle, trade, and diplomacy. This relatively coherent chronology comes to a halt with the end of the Babylonian Dynasty III (Kassite) around 1200 BC.

The Dark Age - sometime around the fall of Babylonian Dynasty III (Kassite) around 1200 BC things in the Ancient Near East take a serious turn for the worse. In the east, the Mari and Mitanni are overrun, apparently by the Sea People who similarly trouble Egypt. In the north, the Hittite Empire is overrun by parties as yet unidentified. In the south, Arameans roll in and crush both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Meanwhile a major drought is punishing the entire region extending as far away as Mycenae and Libya. Essentially, almost anyone capable of putting stylus to a cuneiform tablet is too busy running for their lives to record history. Note that due to the thin nature of early Kassite, Assyrian and Hittite records, the Dark Age is considered by some scholars to run all the way back to the fall of Babylon in 1531 BC.

3) Eventually, things settle down, and somewhere around 900 BC, historical data becomes available again. There are plenty of Assyrian and Babylonian tablets and inscriptions. The growth of interlocking trade and alliances in the region provide reflection in places like Egypt. Classical sources such as the Canon of Ptolemy, the works of Berosus and the Hebrew Bible provide chronological support and synchronisms. There is even a eclipse in 763 BC which anchors the Assyrian list of imperial officials.

The major question for the chronology of the Ancient Near East is "How long was the Dark Age?" No one really knows. Worse, many scholars are sure that they know the answer and they disagree. The result is that the history of the Ancient Near East down the end of the Third Babylonian Dynasty is a "floating chronology". In other words, it fits together internally as a "relative chronology" but not as a "absolute chronology". We don't know when it starts.

The major schools of thought on the length of the the Dark Age are separated by 56 or 64 years. This is because the key source for their dates is the Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa and the visibility of Venus has a 56/64 year cycle. There have been other attempts to anchor the chronology using records of eclipses and other methods, but they are not yet widely supported.

The alternative major chronologies are defined by the date of the 8th year of the reign of Ammisaduqa, king of Babylon. This choice then defines the reign of Hammurabi.

Major Possible Chronologies of the Ancient Near East

Chronology Ammisaduqa Year 8 Reign of Hammurabi Fall of Babylon I
Ultra-Low 1542 BC 1696 BC - 1654 BC 1499 BC
Short or Low 1574 BC 1728 BC - 1686 BC 1531 BC
Middle 1638 BC 1792 BC - 1750 BC 1595 BC
Long or High 1694 BC 1848 BC - 1806 BC 1651 BC

The current scholarly consensus is with the short chronology used in this article, though it must be pointed out that there are still some strong supporters of the other chronologies. There are also some scholars who discount the validity Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa entirely.

As a final note, the chronology of the Ancient Near East is inexorably linked to the chronology of Egypt. Diplomatic exchanges between Egypt and the Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Mitanni, and many lesser city-states synchronize major portions of the Ancient Near East chronology. To the extent that there are problems in the Egyptian chronology, these issues will be reflected in the timeline of the Ancient Near East.

Sources of Chronological Data

Inscriptional

Literally thousands of cuneiform tablets have been found in a swath running from Anatolia to Egypt. While many are the modern equivalent of grocery receipts, these tablets, along with inscriptions on buildings and public monuments, provide the major source of chronological information for the ancient Middle East.

Underlying Issues

  • State of materials

While there are some relatively pristine objects, such as though you might see in the Louvre or the British Museum, the vast majority of recovered tables and inscriptions are in much worse condition. They have been broken with only portions found, intentionally defaced, and damaged by weather or the effects of being buried underground. Many tablets were not even baked in antiquity and have to be carefully handled until they are heated properly.

  • Provenance

The fact of where an item is recovered is an important piece of information for archaeologist. Unfortunately, two forces get in the way of this data. First, in ancient times old materials were often reused either as building material or fill, sometimes at a great distance from the original location. Secondly, looting has been a fact of life for archaeological sites, dating at least back to Roman times. The provenance of a looted object is difficult or impossible to determine.

  • Multiple Versions

Over time, key documents like the Sumerian King List were repeatedly copied across the generations. As a result, there are sometimes multiple versions of a chronological source that differ from each other. It can be very hard to determine which version is correct. The Sumerian King List is a good example.

  • Translation

The translation of cuneiform documents is quite difficult, especially given the damaged nature of much source material. Additionally, our knowledge of the underlying languages, like Akkadian and Sumerian, have evolved over time, so a translation done now may be quite different than one done in 1900 AD. The result of all this is that there can be honest disagreement what the document really says.

  • Slant

Many of our important source documents, such as the Assyrian King List, are the products of government and religious establishments. They often have a built in slant in favor of the king or god in charge. A king may even take credit for an battle or construction project of an earlier ruler. The Assyrians in particular have a literary tradition of always putting the best possible face on history. The tablets or inscriptions in question still have value, though one does have to keep the slant in mind.

King Lists

Keeping historical lists of rulers was traditional in the ancient Near East.

Covers rulers of Mesopotamia from a time "before the flood" up to the fall of the Isin Dynasty. For many early city/states it is the only source of chronological data. A major problem is that many early rulers are listed with fantastically long reigns. There has been some speculation that this stems from an error transcribing from the base 60 arithmetic of the Sumerians to the decimal based system of the later Akkadians.

This list deals only with the rulers of Babylon. It has been found in two versions Babylonian King List A and Babylonian King List B. The later dynasties in the list reflect the Kassite and Sealand periods of Babylon. There is also a Babylonian King List of the Hellenistic Period which covers the later part of the 1st millennium.

Found in multiple differing copies, this tablet lists all the kings of Assyria and their regnal lengths back into the mists of time, with the portions with reasonable data beginning at around the 14th century BC. When combined with the various Assyrian chronicles, the Assyrian King List anchors the chronology of the 1st millennium. Some contrarians believe this anchoring is less than solid.

Chronicles

Many chronicles are have been recovered in the ancient Near East. Most are partial or fragmentary, but when combined with other source, they provide a rich source of chronological data.

  • Synchronistic Chronicle

Found in the library of Assurbanipal in Nineveh, it records the interaction of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, from the Assyrian point of view. While useful, the consensus is that this chronicle should be taken with a grain of salt.

  • Chronicle P

While quite incomplete, this tablet provides the same type of information as the Assyrian Synchronistic Chronicle, but from the Babylonian point of view.

  • Royal Chronicle of Lagash

The Sumerian King List omits any mention of Lagash, even though it was clearly a major power during the period covered by the list. The Royal Chronicle of Lagash appears to be an attempt to remedy that omission, listing the kings of Lagash in the form of a chronicle. . It should be noted that some scholars believe the chronicle to be either a parody of the Sumerian King List or a complete fabrication.

Royal Inscriptions

As today, political figures in the ancient Near East liked to take credit for public works. Temples, walls, statues, pretty much anything built by a ruler is likely to have some sort of inscription mentioning their name. The kings also were sure to record major deeds like battles won, titles acquired, or gods appeased in some form of public inscription. These are very useful in tracking the reign of a ruler.

Year Lists

Unlike current calendars, most ancient calendars were based on how long the current ruler had been in power. A year might be "the 5th year in the reign of Hammurabi". As part of this, each royal year was given a title, like "the year Ur was defeated". Most often this reflected a deed of the ruler. The compilation of these years are called date lists.

Eponym (limmu) Lists

In Assyria, a royal official, or Limmu was selected every year of a kings reign. Many copies of these lists have been found. . Naturally, things are not as clear cut as all that. There are sometime more or less limmu than the length of a king's reign. And sometimes the different versions of the Eponym List disagree on a limmu.

Trade, diplomatic, and disbursement records

As is often the case in archaeology, it is the everyday records of a civilization that give the best picture of a civilization. Cuneiform tablets were constantly moving around the ancient Near East, offering alliances (sometimes including daughters for marriage), threatening war, acting as shipping documents for mundane supplies or settling accounts receivable. Most were tossed away after use the way that we would toss the receipt from a fast food restaurant. Fortunately for use, they didn't really have recycling, except perhaps to use the material is wall filler in new construction.

The classic example. A number of cuneiform tablets were found at Amarna Egypt, the city of the pharaoh Akenaten. They were written mostly in Akkadian, the diplomatic language of the time. Several involved named rulers in the region including the kings of Assyria and Babylon. Assuming that the correct kings have been identified, it locks the chronology of the ancient Near East to that of Egypt, at least from the middle of the 2nd Millennium.

Classical

Some data sources are available to us from the classical period

Berosus was a Babylonian astronomer living during the Hellenistic period. He wrote a history of Babylon which has not survived to modern times. Luckily, portions of this work were preserved by other classical writers.

This book provides a list of kings starting at around 750 BC in Babylon and forward through the Persian and Roman periods, in a astronomical context. Is used to help define the chronology of the 1st millennium.

  • Hebrew Bible

Not having the benefit of being written into clay and buried, the records of the Hebrews have an additional layer of time and translation to work though in being used as a source for chronology. On the other hand, the Hebrews did live pretty much in a territory directly in the crosshairs of Babylon, Assyria, Egypt and the Hittites, giving them a front row seat to actions in the area. Mainly of use in the 1st millennium and with the Assyrian New Kingdom.

Astronomical

A record of the movements of Venus during the reign of a king of the First Babylonian Dynasty. Using it, various scholars have proposed dates for the fall of Babylon based on the 56/64 year cycle of Venus. More recent work has suggested that the fundamental 8 year cycle of Venus is a better metric, leading to the proposal of a "ultra-low" chronology.

  • Eclipses

A number of lunar and solar eclipses have been suggested for use in dating the ancient Near East. Many suffer from the vagueness of the original tablets in showing that an actual eclipse occurred. At that point, it becomes a question of using computer models to show when a given eclipse would have been visible at a site. The most important are the Ninevah Ecplise, found in a Assyrian limmu list i.e. "Bur-Sagale of Guzana, revolt in the city of Ashur. In the month Simanu an eclipse of the sun took place." This eclipse is considered to be solidly dated to 15 June 763 BC. The other important event is the Ur III Lunar Eclipses found in an list of omens. Dates for these eclipses have been proposed over a 200 year range. Most calculations for dating using eclipses have assumed that the Venus Tablet of Ammisaduqa is a legitimate source.

Dendrochronology

Dendrochronology attempts to use the variable growth pattern of tree, expressed in their rings, to build up a chronological timeline. At present, there are no continuous chronologies for the Near East. A floating chronology has been developed using trees in Anatolia for the Bronze and Iron ages. Until a continuous sequence is developed, the usefulness for improving the chronology of the Ancient Near East is limited.

Radiocarbon Dating

As in Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean, radiocarbon dates run one or two centuries earlier than the dates proposed by archaeologists. It is not at all clear which groups is right, if either. Mechanisms have been proposed for explaining why radiocarbon dates in the region might be skewed. Equally logical arguments have been made suggesting that the archaeological dates are too late. Time will tell. The spread of accelerator based carbon dating techniques may help clear up the issue. Another promising front is the dating of lime plaster from structures.

Synchronisms

Egypt

At least as far back as the reign of Thutmose III, Egypt took a strong interest in the ancient Near East. At times they occupied portions of the region, a favor returned in later days by the Assyrians. Some key synchronisms:

  • Battle of Kadesh, involving Ramses II of Egypt (in his 5th year of reign) and Muwatalli II of the Hittite empire. Recorded by both Egyptian and Hittite records.

  • Peace treaty between Ramses II of Egypt (in his 21st year or reign) and Hattusili III of the Hittites. Recorded by both Egyptian and Hittite records.

  • Amenhotep III (Amenophis III) marries the daughter of Shuttarna II of Mitanni. There is also a record of messages from the pharoh to Kadashman-Enlil I of Babylon in the Amarna Letter (EA1-5). Other Amarna letters link Amenhotep III to Burnaburiash II of Babylon (EA6) and Tushratta of Mitanni (EA17-29) as well.

  • Akhenaten married the daughter of Tushratta of Mitanni (as did his father Amenhotep III) leaving a number of records on the matter.

  • Amenhotep 4 corresponded with Burnaburiash II of Babylon (EA7-11,15), and Ashuruballit 1 of Assyria (EA15-16)

Indus Valley

There is much evidence that the Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley traded with the region. This is demonstrated by clay seals found at Ur III and in the Persian Gulf. In addition, if the land of Meluhha does indeed refer to the Indus Valley, then there are extensive trade records ranging from the Akkadian Empire until the Babylonian Dynasty I.

Thera and Eastern Mediteranean

Goods from Greece made their way into the Ancient Near East, directly in Anatolia and via the island of Cyprus in the rest of the region and Egypt. A Hittite king, Tudhaliya IV even captured Cyprus as part of an attempt to enforce a blockade of the Assyrians.

The eruption of the Thera volcano provides a possible time marker for the region. A large eruption, it would have sent a plume of ash directly over Anatolia and filled the sea in the area with floating pumice. This pumice appeared in Egypt, apparantly via trade. Current excavations in the Levant may also add to the timeline. Unfortuneately, the exact date of the volcanic eruption is subject of strong contest between the radiocarbon experts, who place it at around 1625 BC and archaeologists, who support a date around 1450 BC.

Chronology

Third Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Lugal-Zage-Si 2359 BC – 2335 BC (short) contemporary of Urukagina of Lagash and Sargon of Akkad

Dynasty of Akkad

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Sargon 2334 BC – 2279 BC (short)
Rimush 2278 BC - 2270 BC son of Sargon
Manishtushu 2269 BC - 2255 BC son of Sargon
Naram-sin 2254 BC – 2218 BC grandson of Sargon
Shar-kali-sharri 2217 BC – 2193 BC son of Naram-sin
Igigi
Nanum
Imi
Elulu
Dudu 2189 BC - 2168 BC
Shu-durul 2168 BC – 2147 BC Akkad defeated by the Guti

Fourth Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Ur-nigin(ak) 2091 BC – 2084 BC (short)
Ur-gigir(ak) 2084 BC – 2078 BC
Kudda 2078 BC – 2072 BC
Puzur-ili 2072 BC – 2067 BC
Ur-utu or Lugal-melem 2067 BC - 2061 BC

Gutian Kings

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Unknown kings ??? BC – ??? BC
Erridupizir 2141 BC – 2138 BC (short)
Imta 2138 BC – 2135 BC
Inkishush 2135 BC – 2129 BC earliest Gutian ruler on Sumerian king list
Sarlagab 2129 BC – 2126 BC
Shulme' 2126 BC – 2120
Elulmesh or Elulu-mesh 2120 BC – 2114 BC
Inimabakesh 2114 BC – 2109 BC
Igeshaush 2109 BC – 2103 BC
Iarlangab or Iarlagab 2103 BC – 2088 BC
Ibate 2088 BC – 2085 BC
Iarlangab 2085 BC – 2082 BC
Kurum 2082 BC – 2081 BC
Habil-kin 2081 BC – 2078 BC
La'erabum 2078 BC – 2076 BC
Irarum 2076 BC – 2074 BC
Ibranum 2074 BC – 2073 BC
Hablum 2073 BC – 2071 BC
Puzur-sin 2071 BC – 2064 BC
Iarlaganda 2064 BC – 2057 BC
Si'u or Si'um 2057 BC – 2050 BC
Tirigan 2050 BC – 2050 BC defeated by Utu-hegal

Second Dynasty of Lagash

Following the collapse of the Akkadian Empire after Shar-kali-sharri of Akkad under pressure from the invading Gutians, Lagash gradually regained prominence. As a client state to the Gutian Kings, Lagash was extremely successful, peaking under the rule of Gudea. After the last Gutian King, Tirigan, was defeated, by Utu-hegal, Lagash came under the control of Ur under Ur-Nammu. Note that there is some indication that the order of the last two rules of Lagash should be reversed.

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Lugalushumgal
Puzer-Mama
Ur-Utu
Ur-Mama
Lu-Baba
Lugula
Kaku or Kakug
Ur-Bau or Ur-baba 2093 BC - 2080 BC (short)
Gudea 2080 BC - 2060 BC Son-in-law of Ur-baba
Ur-Ningirsu 2060 BC - 2055 BC Son of Gudea
Pirigme or Ugme 2055 BC - 2053 BC Grandson of Gudea
Ur-gar 2053 BC - 2049 BC
Nammahani 2049 BC - 2046 BC Grandson of Kaku, defeated by Ur-Nammu

Fifth Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Utu-hegal 2055 BC – 2048 BC (short)

Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian Renaissance)

In an apparently peaceful transition, Ur came to power after the end of the reign of Utu-hegal of Uruk, with the first king, Ur-Nammu, solidifying his power with the defeat of Lagash. By the dynasties end with the destruction of Ur by Elamites and Shimashki, the dynasty included little more than the area around Ur.

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Ur-Nammu or Ur-Engur 2047 BC – 2030 BC (short) defeated Nammahani of Lagash; contemporary of Utu-hegal of Uruk
Shulgi or Šulgi 2029 BC – 1982 BC Possible lunar/solar eclipse 2005 BC
Amar-Sin or Bur-Sin 1981 BC – 1973 BC Son of Shulgi
Shu-Sin or Šu-Sin 1972 BC – 1964 BC
Ibbi-Sin 1963 BC – 1940 BC Son of Shu-Sin

Dynasty of Isin

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Išbi-Erra 1953 BC – 1921 BC (short)
Šu-ilišu 1920 BC – 1911 BC
Iddin-dagan 1910 BC – 1890 BC
Išme-dagan 1889 BC – 1871 BC
Lipit-Ištar 1870 BC – 1860 BC
Ur-Ninurta 1859 BC – 1832 BC
Bur-Sin or Amar-Sin 1831 BC – 1811 BC
Lipit-Enlil 1810 BC – 1806 BC
Erra-imitti or Ura-imitti 1805 BC – 1799 BC
Enlil-bani 1798 BC – 1775 BC
Zambiya 1774 BC – 1772 BC
Iter-piša 1771 BC – 1768 BC
Ur-dulkugga 1767 BC – 1764 BC
Sin-magir 1763 BC – 1753 BC
Damiq-ilišu 1752 BC – 1730 BC

Kings of Larsa

The chronology of the Kingdom of Larsa is based mainly on the Larsa King List (Larsa Dynastic List), the Larsa Date Lists, and a number of royal inscriptions and commercial records. The Larsa Kings List was written in Babylon during the reign of Hammurabi, conqueror of Larsa. It is suspected that the list elevated the first several Amorite Isinite governors of Larsa to kingship so as to legitimize the rule of Amorite Babylonians over Larsa. After a period of Babylonian occupation, Larsa briefly breaks free in a revolt ended by the death of the last king, Rim-Sin II.

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Naplanum 1961 BC - 1940 BC (short) Contemporary of Ibbi-Sin of Ur
Emisum 1940 BC - 1912 BC
Samium 1912 BC - 1877 BC
Zabaia 1877 BC - 1868 BC Son of Samium, First royal inscription
Gungunum 1868 BC - 1841 BC Gained independance from Lipit-Ishtar of Isin
Abisare 1841 BC - 1830 BC
Sumuel 1830 BC - 1801 BC
Nur-Adad 1801 BC - 1785 BC Contemporay of Sumu-la-El of Babylon
Sin-Iddinam 1785 BC - 1778 BC Son of Nur-Adad
Sin-Eribam 1778 BC - 1776 BC
Sin-Iqisham 1776 BC - 1771 BC Son of Sin-Eribam
Silli-Adad 1771 BC - 1770 BC
Warad-Sin 1770 BC - 1758 BC Possible co-regency with Kudur-Mabuk his father
Rim-Sin I 1758 BC - 1699 BC Defeated by Hammurabi of Babylon
Hammurabi of Babylon 1699 BC - 1686 BC
Samsu-iluna of Babylon 1686 BC - 1678 BC
Rim-Sin II 1678 BC - 1674 BC Killed in revolt against Babylon

First Babylonian Dynasty (Dynasty I)

Following the fall of the Ur III Dynasty, the resultant power vacumn was contested by Isin and Larsa, with Babylon and Assyria later joining the fray. In the second half of the reign of Hammurabi, Babylon became the preminent power, a position it largely maintained until the sack by Mursili I in 1531 BC. Note that there are no contemporary accounts of the sack of Babylon. It is inferenced from much later documents.

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Sumu-abum or Su-abu 1830 BC – 1817 BC (short) Contempory of Ilushuma of Assyria
Sumu-la-El 1817 BC - 1781 BC Contemporary of Erishum I of Assyria
Sabium or Sabum 1781 BC - 1767 BC Son of Sumu-la-El
Apil-Sin 1767 BC - 1749 BC Son of Sabium
Sin-muballit 1748 BC - 1729 BC Son of Apil-Sin
Hammurabi 1728 BC – 1686 BC Contemporary of Shamshi-Adad I of Assyria
Samsu-iluna 1686 BC - 1648 BC Son of Hammurabi
Abi-ešuh or Abiešu 1648 BC - 1620 BC Son of Samsu-iluna
Ammi-ditana 1620 BC - 1583 BC Son of Abi-ešuh
Ammi-ṣaduqa or Ammiṣaduqa 1582 BC – 1562 BC Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa
Samsu-Ditana 1562 BC - 1531 BC Sack of Babylon

Hittite Old Kingdom

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Pusarruma
Labarna I
Hattusili I 1586 BC - 1556 BC (short) Also known as Labarna II
Mursili I 1556 BC - 1526 BC Sacked Babylon in reign of Samsu-Ditana
Hantili I 1526 BC - 1496 BC
Zidanta I 1496 BC - 1486 BC
Ammuna 1486 BC - 1466 BC Son of Hantili I
Huzziya I 1466 BC - 1461 BC

Third Babylon Dynasty (Kassite)

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Agum II or Agum-Kakrime
Burnaburiash I Treaty with Puzur-Ashur III of Assyria
Kashtiliash III
Ulamburiash
Agum III
Karaindash Contempory of Amenophis III of Egypt
Kadashman-harbe I
Kurigalzu I
Kadashman-Enlil I 1374 BC - 1360 BC Contempory of Amenophis III of Egypt Amarna Letters
Burnaburiash II 1359 BC - 1333 BC Contempory of Akhenaten and Ashur-uballit I
Kara-hardash 1333 BC Grandson of Ashur-uballit I of Assyria
Nazi-Bugash 1333 BC
Kurigalzu II 1332 BC - 1308 BC Son of Burnaburiash II
Nazi-Maruttash 1307 BC - 1282 BC Overthrown by Ashur-uballit I of Assyria
Kadashman-Turgu 1281 BC - 1264 BC Contempory of Hattusili III of the Hittites
Kadashman-Enlil II 1263 BC - 1255 BC Cotemporary of Hattusili III of the Hittites
Kudur-Enlil 1254 BC - 1246 BC
Shagarakti-Shuriash 1245 BC - 1233 BC
Kashtiliashu IV 1232 BC - 1225 BC Contempory of Tukulti-Ninurta I of Assyrian
Enlil-nadin-shumi 1224 BC Assyria installed governor
Kadashman-Harbe II 1223 BC Assyria installed governor
Adad-shuma-iddina 1222 BC - 1217 BC Assyria installed governor
Adad-shuma-usur 1216 BC - 1187 BC Contempory of Ashur-nirari III of Assyria
Meli-Shipak II 1186 BC - 1172 BC
Marduk-apla-iddina I 1171 BC - 1159 BC
Zababa-shuma-iddin 1158 BC
Enlil-nadin-ahi 1157 BC - 1155 BC Defeated by Shutruk-Nahhunte of Elam

Hittite New Kingdom

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Tudhaliya III 1360 BC - 1344 BC Son of Tudhaliya II
Suppiluliuma I 1344 BC - 1322 BC Son of Tudhaliya II
Arnuwanda II 1322 BC - 1321 BC Son of Suppiluliuma I
Mursili II 1321 BC - 1295 BC Son of Suppiluliuma I
Muwatalli II 1295 BC - 1272 BC Battle of Kadesh
Mursili III or Urhi-Teshub 1272 BC - 1267 BC
Hattusili III 1267 BC - 1237 BC Contemporary of Shalmaneser of Assyria
Tudhaliya IV 1237 BC - 1209 BC Son of Hattusili III
Arnuwanda III 1209 BC - 1207 BC Son of Tudhaliya IV
Suppiluliuma II 1207 BC - 1178 BC Son of Tudhaliya IV

Assyrian Middle Kingdom

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
Eriba-Adad I 1380 BC - 1353 BC
Ashur-uballit I 1353 BC - 1318 BC Contempory of Burnaburiash II of Babylon and Suppiluliuma I of the Hittites
Enlil-nirari 1317 BC - 1308 BC Son of Ashur-uballit I
Arik-den-ili 1307 BC - 1296 BC
Adad-nirari I 1295 BC - 1264 BC Contemporary of Shattuara I of Mitanni
Shalmaneser I 1263 BC - 1234 BC Son of Adad-nirari I
Tukulti-Ninurta I 1233 BC - 1197 BC
Ashur-nadin-apli 1196 BC - 1194 BC Son of Tukulti-Ninurta I
Ashur-nirari III 1193 BC - 1188 BC Contempory of Adad-shuma-usur of Babylon Son of Ashur-nadin-apli
Enlil-kudurri-usur 1187 BC - 1183 BC Son of Tukulti-Ninurta I
Ninurta-apal-Ekur 1182 BC - 1180 BC

References

Notes

External links



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