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Ashur-dan IIIKing of Assyria, reigned approximately 773–755 BC.
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Dive |
Content:
- Early Life and Accession
- Reign: A Period of Turmoil
- Military Campaigns
- - 771 BC: Ganana
- Stabilization and Legacy
Early Life and Accession
Ashur-dan III, the son of Adad-nirari III, ascended to the throne of Assyria around 773 BC after the passing of his brother, Shalmaneser IV.
Reign: A Period of Turmoil
Ashur-dan III's reign was marked by significant challenges for the Assyrian Empire. To the east, the Urartian king Argishti I actively expanded his territory into areas formerly controlled by Assyria, particularly in Manna and regions further south. In the northwest, Assyria faced losses as well.
Military Campaigns
Despite the setbacks, Ashur-dan III led several military campaigns during his reign. The "Eponym List" records expeditions in the following years:
- 771 BC: Ganana
- 770 BC: Marad (possibly Phoenicia)- 769 BC: Itu'a
- 767 BC: Ganana
- 768 BC: Medes
- 765 BC: Hatarikka
Internal Unrest
In addition to external threats, Assyria also faced internal unrest during Ashur-dan III's rule. In 765 BC, a plague struck the kingdom. In 763 BC, a rebellion erupted in Ashur, the capital city, and lasted for two years. In 761 BC, Arraphah rose in revolt, which was quelled in 760 BC. However, in the following year, rebellion spread to Guzana, while a second plague devastated the population.
Stabilization and Legacy
Not until 758 BC did Ashur-dan III manage to quell the uprising in Guzana and restore some semblance of peace to Assyria. In 755 BC, he launched another campaign against Hatarikka.
In the 9th year of Ashur-dan III's reign (763 BC), a solar eclipse occurred, providing a valuable reference point for Assyrian and Urartian chronology.
Ashur-dan III ruled for 18 years and was succeeded by his brother, Ashur-nirari V.
