The Kings List

 

Kings of Babylon

THE BABYLONIAN "KINGS" BEFORE THE DELUGE

The history of Babylon according to the first inhabitants of that region, the Sumerian, begins at the very Creation of the world. They have left different records of ten "kings" who reigned in the area "before the great Deluge covered the whole Earth". These ten kings may correspond to the ten generations mentioned in the Scriptures (Bereshyit ch.5). These ten "kings" are thought to have settled their capital in one of the lower Mesopotamian cities. The following is the Dynastic Record of Larsa and the correspondence to the ten Patriarchs of Genesis.

The Sumerian account of Larsa		Bible genealogy
King’s name	Reigned in	Patriarchs
Alulim	Eridu	Adam
Alalmar	Eridu	Shet
Enmenlu’anna	Badgurgurru	Enosh
Kichunna	Larsa	Qenan
Enmengal’anna	Badgurgurru	Mahalal’el
Dumuzi	Badgurgurru	Yered
Sibzianna	Larak	Hanuk
Emenduranna	Sippar	Methushelah
Uburratu	Shurruppak	Lemek
Utnapishtim (Xinsuddu)	Shurruppak	Noach

The Sumerian history records that "in the days of Uthnapishtim (Xinsuddu, in other texts), the Flood was announced and he built an ark to save himself and his family"... Other traditions identify this person with the Sumerian king Gilgamesh.

THE BABYLONIAN DYNASTIC PERIODS

Nimrud, founder of Bab-El (The gate of G-d), then re-named Bab-Ilani (The Gate of Elohim), was the first SUMERIAN king. After he built the Tower of Babel, the kingdom lost unity and Sumerian cities became self-ruled "State-Cities". The following is a resumed account of the main State-Cities and their kings (many of them purely legendary):

Kings of Kysh (Kush)	Kings of Uruk (Erekh)	Kings of Ur	Kings of Lagash
Ga-Ur Gulla'nidaba'anna'gad Pala-Kinatim Nangish-Lishma Bahima Buanun Kalibum Galumum Zukakin Atab Mashda Arpu-RimEtana Balih En-Mennuna Melam-Kishi Bargal-Nuna Mes-Simug Tizkar Il-Kum Il-Tasadum Enmebaragisi Agga Uhub Mesilim Dadasig Mamagalla Galbum Tug'e Mennunna Enbi-Ishtar Lugalmu Ibiera Kubaba (Queen) Puzur-Sin Ur-Zababa Simudar Usi-Watar Ishtarmuti Ishmeshamash Nannia	Dumuzi	Meskalamdug	Enhegal
	Enmerkar	Akalamdug	Lugalshagensur
	Lugalbanda	Mesannepadda	Urnanshe
	Meskiangasher	Aanepadda	Eannatum
	Gilgamesh	Meskiagnunna	Entemena
	Urlugal I	Annanne	Lugalanda
	Utulkalamma	Meskiagnanna	Urukagina
	Laba'sum	Elulu	- Akkadian rule -
	Ennundara'anna	Balulu	- Gutian rule -
	Meshe	- LAGASH rule -	Lugalushumgal
	Melamanna	Une	Puzurmama
	Lugalkitun	Kaku	Ur-Ningirsu I
	Enpirigdu'anna	Elili	Pirigme
	Urlugal II	- Akkadian rule -	Lubaba
	Arga'ande'a	Urnammu	Lugula
	Enshakkushanna	Shulgi	Inimkug
	Lugalkinishedudu	Amarsu’ena	Urbaba I
	Lugalkisalsi	Shusu’en	Gudea
	Lugaltar	Ibbisu’en	Ur-Ningirsu II
	Lugalzaggesi		Ugme
	- Akkadian rule -		Urgar
	Urnigin		Urbaba II
	Urgigir		Urmama
	Lugalmelam		Namahani
	Kudda		- UR rule -
	Puzur-Ili
	Urutu
	Utuchengal
	- UR rule -

The Sumerian states collapsed with the expansion of Semitic peoples, and the AKKADIAN kings took control over the lower Mesopotamia. The first Akkadian king mentioned is the same as the first Assyrian king, SHARYUKENU, known in history as SARGON, is to be identified with the Biblical ASHUR (Assur), founder of the Assyrian state. This Ashur seems to have been the king of the State-City of Akkad in rivalry with Nimrud, king of Sumerians, and then emigrated to found Assur in the Northern Mesopotamia, where Nimrud had settled his own colonies at Kalah (also called Nimrud).

THE KINGS OF AKKAD

Sharyukenu (Sargon I)

Rimush

Manishtushu

Naramsu’in/Naram-sin

Sharkalisharri

Elulu'mesh

Dud'u

Shu'durul

Akkadians did not keep a complete unity in lower Mesopotamia during the early Semitic period, and cities were still self-ruled. This is known as the "Isin-Larsa Period".

Kings of Isin	Years (Jewish/b.c.e.)		Kings of Larsa	Years (Jewish/b.c.e.)
Ishbi’erra	1743-1775/2017-1985		Naplanum	1735-1755/2025-2005
Shu'ilishu	1775-1785/1985-1975		Ymisium	1755-1783/2005-1977
Iddindagan	1785-1806/1975-1954		Samium	1783-1818/1977-1942
Ishmedagan	1806-1825/1954-1935		Zabaya	1818-1827/1942-1933
Lipitishtar	1825-1836/1935-1924		Gungunnum	1827-1854/1933-1906
Urninurta	1836-1864/1924-1896		Abisare	1854-1865/1906-1895
Bursin	1864-1886/1896-1874		Sumu’el	1865-1894/1895-1866
Lipitenlil	1886-1891/1874-1869		Nuradad	1894-1910/1866-1850
Erra’imitti	1891-1899/1869-1861		Siniddinam	1910-1917/1850-1843
Enlilbani	1899-1923/1861-1837		Sineribam	1917-1919/1843-1841
Zambiya	1923-1926/1837-1834		Siniqisham	1919-1924/1841-1836
Iterpisha	1926-1929/1834-1831		Silli'adad	1924-1925/1836-1835
Urdukuga	1929-1932/1831-1828		Varadsin	1925-1937/1835-1823
Sinmagir	1932-1943/1828-1817		Eri’aku
Damiqilishu	1943-1967/1817-1793		Kudurmabug
			Rimsin	...-1997/...-1763

 

Then, the city of Babylon was growing in importance and wealth, until the achievement of hegemony in all the land of Shin’ar, also known as Chaldea, so that the old name of the land was replaced by historians by the most common denomination of "Babylonia".

The first Babylonian kings were anyway of Sumerian origin; Babel was ruled by Nimrod’s dynasty, known as the "Amurru", that were already settled also in Kana’an. The most important king of this dynasty was Hammurapi, who achieved not only unifying the lower Mesopotamia but had also extended his influence to Kanaanite cities. This Hammurapi is recorded in the Bible as Amraphel, in alliance with other kings – the king of Larsa Eri’aku (Aryokh) among them – in an attempt to reinforce their hegemony over Amorite kings in Kana’an (Bereshyit, ch. 14).

 

The Kings of BABYLON

Dynasty of Amurru

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Nimrod	1660 (?) / 2100 (?)
…
Sumuabum	1865-1879 / 1895-1881
Sumula’el	1879-1915 / 1881-1845
Sabium	1879-1894 / 1845-1830
Aplisin	1894-1947 / 1830-1813
Sinmuballit	1947-1967 / 1813-1793
Hammurapi	1967-2010 / 1793-1750
Samsuiluna	2010-2048 / 1750-1712
Abi’eshush	2048-2076 / 1712-1684
Ammiditana	2076-2113 / 1684-1647
Ammisaduqa	2113-2134 / 1647-1626
Shamshuditana	2113-2134 / 1647-1626
Gulkišar	2156-2158 / 1604-1602

Dynasty of Kassites

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Gandash
Agum I	~ 2060 / ~ 1700
Kashtiliash I
Ušši A-šú	~ 2110 / ~ 1650
Abirattash
Kashtiliash II
Urzigurumash
Harbashihu	~ 2160 / ~ 1600
Tiptakzi
Agum II Kakrime	~ 2210 / ~ 1550
Burnaburiash I
Kashtiliash III	2260-2290 / 1500-1470
Ulamburiash	2290-... / 1470-...
Agum III	...-2310 / ...-1450
Kadashmanharbe	2310-... / 1450-...
Kara’indash	...-2330 / ...-1430
Kurigalzu I	2330-2360 / 1430-1400
Kadashmanenlil I	2360-2380 / 1400-1380
Burnaburiash III	2380-2408 / 1380-1352
Karakhardash, Nazibugash	2408-2416 / 1352-1343
Kurigalzu II	2417-2442 / 1343-1318
Nazimaruttash	2442-2468 / 1318-1292
Kadashmanturgu	2468-2486 / 1292-1274
Kadashmanenlil II	2486-2492 / 1274-1268
Kudurenlil	2492-2502 / 1268-1258
Shagaraktishuriash	2502-2521 / 1258-1239
Kashtiliash IV	2521-2529 / 1239-1231
Tukulti-Ninurta I	2529-2530 / 1231-1230
Enlilnadinshumi	2530-... / 1230-...
Kadashmankharbe II
Adadshuma'iddina
Adadshumussur	...-2567 / ...-1193
Melishichu	2567-2582 / 1193-1178
Marduk’apaliddina I	2582-2595 / 1178-1165
Zababashumiddina	2595-2596 / 1165-1164
Enlilnadinakhkhe	2596-2599 / 1164-1160

Dynasty of Isin

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Mardukabitakhkheshu / Marduk-kābit-aḫḫēšu	2599-2618 / 1160-1142
Ittimarduk'balatu	2618-2629 / 1142-1131
Ninurta-nadinshumi	2629-2635 / 1131-1125
Nabukudurrussur I / Nabû-kudurrī-uṣur	2635-2653 / 1125-1107
Enlilnadinapli	2653-2658 / 1107-1102
Marduknadinakhkhi	2658-2676 / 1102-1084
Mardukshapikzeri	2676-2692 / 1084-1068
Adad-Apla-Iddina	2692-2714 / 1068-1046
Marduk-Akhkhi'Eriba	2714-2715 / 1046-1045
Marduk-Zēra	2715-2727 / 1045-1033
Nabushumlibur	2727-2731 / 1033-1029

Chaldean Dynasty

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Simmashshikhu	2731-2750 / 1029-1010
Eamukhinshumi	2750-2752 / 1010-1008
Kashshunadinakhkhe	2752-2755 / 1008-1005
Eulmashshakinshumi	2755-2773 / 1005-987
Ninurta'kudurrussur I	2773-2775 / 987-985
Shiriqtishukamunu	2775-2776 / 985-984
Marbiti'apalussur	2776-2780 / 984-980
Nabumukinapli	2780-2816 / 980-944
Ninurta'kudurrussur I	2816-2818 / 944-942
Marbiti'achiddin	2818-2819 / 942-941
Shamashmudammiq	2819-2856 / 941-904
Nabushumishkun I	2856-2872 / 904-888
Nabushumukin	2872-2878 / 888-882
Nabu’apaliddin	2878-2908 / 882-852
Mardukzakirshumi I	2908-2934 / 852-826
Mardukbalatzuiqbi	2934-2947 / 826-813
Bab’achiddin	2947-2950 / 813-810
Ninurta'apalekur
Adadshumibai
Mardukbelzeri
Marduk'apalussur
Eribamarduk	2965-2996 / 795-764
Nabushumishkun II	2996-3014 / 764-748
Nabunassar / Nabû-naṣir	3014-3028 / 748-734
Nabunadinzer	3028-3029 / 734-733
Nabushumishkun III	3029/733
Nabum'ukinzer	3029-3033 / 733-729

Assyrian Dominion

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Pul (Tiglat-Pileser III)	3033-3035 / 729-727
Ululai (Shalmaneser V)	3035-3040 / 727-722
Marduk'apaliddina II (Chaldean ruler)	3040-3052 / 722-710
Sharyukenu (Sargon II)	3052-3057 / 710-705
Sinakhi'eriba (Sennakherib)	3057-3059 / 705-703

Chaldean Dynasty
(resettled under Assyrian Dominion)

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Mardukzakirshumi II	3059 / 703
Marduk'apaliddina II	3059 / 703
Belibni	3059-3060 / 703-700
Assurnadinshum	3060-3066 / 700-694
Nergal'ushezib (Elamite ruler)	3066-3067 / 694-693
Mushezib-Marduk (Elamite ruler)	3068-3072 / 693-689

Assyrian Dominion

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Sinakhi'eriba (Sennakherib)	3072-3080 / 689-681
Ashurachiddin (Asarhadon)	3080-3092 / 681-669
Shamashshumukin (under Ashurbanipal)	3092-3112 / 669-648
Kandalanu (under Ashurbanipal)	3112-3134 / 648-626
Ashur'etif-Ilani	3134 / 626

Chaldean Dynasty

Kings	Years (Jewish / b.c.e.)
Nabupal'ussur (Nabopolassar)	3135-3156 / 626-605
Nabukudurnussur [Nebukhadnezzar]	3156-3200 / 605-561
Evilmardukh / Amēl-Marduk	3200-3202 / 561-559
Nergalsarezer / Nergal-Šarra-Uṣur	3202-3204 / 559-557
Labashmarduk (Laburusharkud)	3204-3206 / 557-555
Nabû-nā’id - Belshatzar / Bel-šarru-Uṣur	3206-3222 / 555-539

different ways of writing: "NEBUKHADNETZAR, KING OF BABYLON"

The last king of Babylon, Nabuna'id, retired himself in his residences in Arabia and the actual ruler was his son, Belshatzar. Babylon fell in 3222 before Persians and Medes. This fact marked the end of Semitic hegemony in the Middle East for about 1200 years, that is until Arabs’ take-over in history.

Assyrian Kings

The Assyrian nation was founded by Ashur, and there was a continuous succession of native kings reigning until the collapse of their empire. Ashur was the first Assyrian king, though it is difficult to define when the Akkadian period ends to give place to the Assyrian era. In fact, the early Assyrian kings are identifiable with the Akkadian sovereigns, and Ashur himself may be the same person as Sargon I, the first Akkadian king. In such case, the empty space between Ashur and the following kings may be partially completed with the Akkadian kings listed above (Rimush, Manishtushu, Naramsu’in, Sharkalisharri, Elulu'mesh, Dud'u, Shu'durul ).

Dynasty of Ashur

The Southern Assyrian tribe of the Chaldees inherited the Assyrian Empire and settled the capital in Babylon.

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