Assyrian conquest of Elam

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Assyrian conquest of Elam
Part of
Wars of Neo-Assyria

Ashurbanipal's campaign against Elam is triumphantly recorded in this relief showing the destruction of the city of Hamanu. Here, flames rise from the city as Assyrian soldiers topple it with pickaxes and crowbars and carry off the spoils. 645-635 BCE. British Museum BM 124919.[1]
Date655 BC - 639 BC
Location
South Mesopotamia, Elam
Result Assyrian victory
Belligerents
Neo-Assyrian Empire Elam
Commanders and leaders
King
Assurbanipal
 King Teumman †
Strength
Unknown Unknown, presumed equal at first before declining
Casualties and losses
Unknown many civilians and soldiers

The conquest of Elam by the Neo-Assyrian Empire took place between 655 and 639 BC.

Background

Clashes between the

amphibious invasion in 694 BC, at the province of Der and again at the River Diyala in 693 BC (this may have been the same battle). For the most part, these battles were bloody and inconclusive. However, the Assyrians were able to obtain the upper hand for the most part, demonstrated by the failure of the Elamites to extend their power beyond the boundaries of Mesopotamia
.

After a failed attack on Babylon in 655 BC, Elamite power soon began to collapse. At the

Assurbanipal
.

Campaign against Elam

In 648 BC, the Elamite city of Susa was razed to the ground; it was to be a terrible portent of events to come. In 639 BC, the Assyrians moved their entire army from the west to destroy their enemies.

Collapse of Elam

The defeats inflicted by Assyria on Elamite offensives were one of many problems facing the Elamites; civil war had erupted in the land, whilst her northern borders were being overrun by the Persians. In 639 BC, Assurbanipal moved into Elam and proudly documented the vengeance against Elamite incursions:

For a distance of a month and twenty-five days' journey I devastated the provinces of Elam. Salt and sihlu I scattered over them... The dust of Susa, Madaktu, Haltemash and the rest of the cities I gathered together and took to Assyria... The noise of people, the tread of cattle and sheep, the glad shouts of rejoicing, I banished from its fields. Wild asses, gazelles and all kinds of beasts of the plain I caused to lie down among them, as if at home.

— Ashurbanipal[2]

With Elam destroyed, the Assyrians returned to find their empire falling apart; years of war had destroyed their ability to wage it. Within 34 years of Elam's destruction, Assyria fell as an independent political entity in the Middle East forever.

Relief of the Battle of Ulai, British Museum.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wall panel; relief British Museum". The British Museum.
  2. ^ Healy, Mark (1991). The Ancient Assyrians. New York: Osprey. p. 54.
  3. ^ "Wall panel; relief British Museum". The British Museum.

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