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Tukultīapilešarra III 𒆪𒋾𒀀𒂍𒈗𒊏 | |
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| Born | c. 795 BCE Assyria |
| Died | 727 BCE Assyria |
| Nationality | Assyrian |
Tukultīapilešarra III (c. 795 BCE – 727 BCE), also known by the Hebrew name Tiglath-Pileser, was the king of Assyria from 745 BCE until his death in 727 BCE. In response to a civil war between the military and royalty on one side and the clergy and merchants on the other, he reorganized Assyria's army and government. These reforms strengthened Assyria and allowed it to conquer almost all of Western Asia.[1]
Conquests[edit | edit source]
In 743 BCE, Tukultīapilešarra went to war with Urartu over control over Syria and drove the Urarteans beyond the Euphrates after defeating them in two battles. The Assyrians reached Tushpa, the capital of Urartu, but were not able to capture it. They captured Damascus and took over Phoenicia in 732 BCE.[1]
In 744 BCE, King Nabûnāṣir of Babylon asked Tukultīapilešarra to help him fight the Chaldeans. Assyria defeated the Chaldeans and made them pay tribute, and Nabûnāṣir recognized Assyrian sovereignty over Babylon. Tukultīapilešarra was crowned as king of Babylon in 729 BCE and made Babylon an autonomous kingdom with control over its internal affairs.[1]
Reforms[edit | edit source]
Tukultīapilešarra created a standing army maintained by the state. He made provinces smaller and limited governors' power to collecting taxes, organizing labor conscription, and leading provincial troops. He began the practice of settling conquered areas with Assyrians and deporting their native inhabitants to other parts of the empire. In some cases, the native population could stay in their homeland but had to pay heavy tribute in agricultural products. The Assyrians forced them to build houses, roads, and irrigation systems and were sometimes conscripted into the army.[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.