Little is known about this, the penultimate, king of the once mighty Assyrian Empire. He may have been the son of Ashurbanipal and older brother of Ashur-uballit II, the last king of the Empire. What is certain is that Sinshar-ishkun came to power amidst internal strives and divisions. But, even as Sinshar-ishkun marched out to meet a new threat from an upstart, Nabopolassar (who would go on to establish the neo-Babylonian Empire) rebellion broke out behind him. Having to split his attention and resources constantly on two fronts he fought a long and exhausting war which, in the end, he could not win. As the signs became clear that Nabopolassar would eventually emerge the winner, he wrote the latter acknowledging the latter's right to rule and pleading only to keep his own kingdom. It was not a plea that would be kept. His final fate is unknown; the sections of the tablets chronicling the siege of Nineveh in which he fought his last are damaged. But, with his death, the end of the Assyrian Empire, was assured, coming, as it did, with four years of his death.
Resources:
The Metropolitan Muzeum ( N). This exhibit shows the cuneiform letter of Sin-sharra-ishkun's letter to Nabopolassar, in which he pleas to retain his own kingdow while acknowledging the latter's rule.
©ALBERITH
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