Ancient History - Part 34: The Fight For Phoenicia

Quelling the northern district, king Tiglath-pileser crossed south-east beyond Lower Zab, conquering further into the lower mountain lands that laid in wait. Assyria's armies did not get far before news broke that the Kurti left behind had revolted in the north. Rather than risk falling for an old canard at worst or accepting distraction at best, the Assyrian king chose to remain in the southern district, his forces encroaching upon land belonging the Nairi people.

There, a collection of leaders, totaling twenty three kings and the warriors who followed, met Tiglath-pileser's men in the field. Again, the Assyrians triumphed. With the Nairi and her allies soundly defeated, the Assyrian had shattered all opposition on two of her sides. The western and northern districts remained a troublesome nuisance however.

Within Hanigalbat, the former lands of the Mitanni, the city of Malatya, along with her sister strongholds resisted. In the old Hittite empire, Carchemish and her sister cities raised arms to ready a counter-assault intended to push back against Assyrian expansion as well. Rumor had swelled that even in Cappadocia, specifically Cataonia, warriors trained daily in their steadfastness, expectant of any pending attack.

Despite the challenge that waited in earnest, Tiglath-pileser never once succumbed to fear. From Lower Zab to the opposite side of the Euphrates, his forces marched forth, and in the end, by the fifth year of the warrior-king's reign, forty-two countries and kingdoms were conquered at his hand. The Assyrian king left his mark in many ways:

1. Rock sculptures and cuneiform left at Nahr el-Kelb in Phoenicia.
2. Tolled Lebanon of their strong trees, particular cedars, for building material.
3. A portrait of himself was sculpted into the cliffs of the Nairi heartland.
4. All cities now paid Tiglath-pileser tribute in gold during his visits for the remainder of his reign.

The inevitability of Assyrian expansion during this period was undeniable and even though many civilizations resisted, upon defeat, these smaller kingdoms relented to taciturn servitude than to sacrifice more lives in a fit of negligence.