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"Sargon of Akkad" redirects here. For the YouTuber, see Carl Benjamin.
Šarrumkīn 𒊬𒊒𒄀 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24th century BCE Azupiranu |
| Died | c. 2279 BCE Akkad |
| Nationality | Akkadian |
Šarrumkīn, also known as Sargon, was the first king of Akkad. After his death, his son Rimuš became king.[1]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Šarrumkīn claimed that his mother was poor and he did not know his father. According to legend, his mother put him in a basket and sent him down the river after he was born. He later worked as a gardener for the king of Kish.[1]
Rule[edit | edit source]
Šarrumkīn became king of Akkad around 2340 BCE. He created the first professional army in history, which consisted of 5,400 soldiers who ate at the king's table every day. He defeated Lugalzagesi, the king of Umma who was supported by fifty vassal rulers. He then expanded his power to Elam and Syria. A famine began at the end of his rule and led to rebellion.[1]
Šarrumkīn unified the system of weights and measures. He imported wood, stone, and metal from India and Arabia by sea.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.