Ancient History - Part 9: Sins of the Father

The window of opportunity opened to Assyria. With the kingdom of the Mitanni in ruin, the northwest lands were split between Assyria itself, and a newer emerging small kingdom, Alshe. The time of Ashur-uballit had passed, and as his heir, the new Assyrian king, Enlil-nirari (1368-1346), finished securing the borders and made a surprising move, turning south toward the Kassites. Specifically, Babylon.

Everyone in the Near East viewed Assyria and Babylon as staunch allies, forged by brotherhood and bound by the blood stemming from king Ashur-uballit's loins. In spite of all pretense, Enlil-niari led his expedition against Kurigalzu III until the two armies met in an engagement along the Tigris River, specifically near the site of Sugagi. A significant battle took place, which resulted in king Kurigalzu III's forces being routed and the boundary lines between the two countries to shift in favor of Assyria gaining more lands.

King Enlil-niari's successful exploit was forever etched in time:

1. In the Old Testament, the Battle of Sugagi is directly referenced in both Books of Chronicles.
2. A boundary stone (kudurru) recovered in Susa (eastern Iran) still exists today that references this war.
3. A traditional heroic inscription scribed into cuneiform, during the time of his grand-children, commemorated this victory for Assyria. Translation: 'Enlil-nirari . . . destroyed the army of Kassites . . . overcame. . . his enemies . . . enlarged boundary and border.'  

Meanwhile, the new king of the weakened Mitanni, Artatama II, welcomed peaceful relations with Assyria. Yet, a new growing faction within Mitanni borders, the Harri people, wished to replace their king with a younger son (Mattiuaza) of the beloved Tushratta, the former king (slain by Artatama II's own hands). Artatama II accomplished little during his reign, other than to push back against the support of these rebellious sentiments, always worried that someone may stab him in the back, and overthrow him for his throne. Justice comes in many forms and perhaps this was a form of punishment in of itself, the price for his cursed prize: That the very act of murdering his elder brother and father for power, would haunt him until his dying day, and be all he'd be remembered.

Once he'd passed, Artatama II's son, Shuttarna III, did not wish to pay for the sins of the father. His first act was to secure strong peaceful relations with the Mitanni's neighbors once again, so he returned the legendary gate (doors of silver and gold) to Assyria that had been stolen during the days of Shaushshatar. The Harri, on the other hand, he dealt with harshly, driving them out of Mitanni lands, and into the lands of Babylon.