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Assyrian conquest of Elam: Difference between revisions

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{{refimprove|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Assyrian conquest of Elam
|partof=[[Wars of Neo-Assyria]]
|image=Destruction of the Elamite city of Hamanu 645-635 BCE.jpg
|image=
|caption=[[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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wall panel; relief British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1856-0909-52 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref>
|caption=
|date=655 BC - 639 BC
|place= South [[Mesopotamia]], [[Elam]]
|result=Pyhrric Assyrian victory
|combatant1=[[AssyriaNeo-Assyrian Empire]]
|combatant2= [[Elam]]
|commander1=King [[Esarhaddon]]<br>King [[Assurbanipal]]
|commander2=King [[TeumannTeumman]]{{KIA}}
|strength1= Unknown
|strength2= Unknown, presumed equal at first before declining
|casualties1=Unknown
|casualties2=manyMany civilians and soldiers
}}
 
{{Battles involving Assyria}}
 
The '''Assyrian conquest of [[Elam''' refers to the conquest of the Elamite Kingdom in western Persia]] by the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]] (911 BC-609 BC). The Elamite lands were finallytook ravagedplace beyondbetween repair655 inand 639 BC.
 
==Background==
Clashes between the [[Elamites]] and the Assyrians had been ongoing for many years prior to 721 BC, the first recorded conflict between Elamites and Assyrians. For many centuries before that, the Elamites had made it a habit of intervening in Babylonian[[Babylonia]]n politics. Naturally this would have placed them in conflict with the Assyrians, who saw [[Babylon]] as within their [[sphere of influence]]. In 721 BC, the Babylonians rebelled against Assyria and Elamite forces attempted to aid Babylon in her revolt. Following this event, the Assyrians and Elamites clashed on numerous occasions; at the [[Tigris]] in 717 BC, along the Elamite coast as part of an [[amphibious invasion]] in 694 BC, at the province of Der and again [[Battle of Diyala River|at the River Diyala]] in 693 BC (this may have been the same battle). For the most part, these battles were bloody and inconclusive. - thoughHowever, 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. - atAt the [[Battle of Ulai|river of Ulai]] in the plain of [[Susa]], an Assyrian army assaulted strong Elamite defensive positions. The Elamites were soundly beaten and [[Teumman]], the Elamite Kingking, himselfwas beheaded whilst attemptingduring to flee in histhe chariotbattle. Although another Babylonian revolt saved Elam from immediate invasion, it would remain one of the most important objectives in the mind of the next and last Great Assyrian King; Assurbanipal[[Ashurbanipal]].
 
==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; it would be their last and most glorious act of retribution and conquest that the Assyrians had mastered like none before.
 
===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, AssurbanipalAshurbanipal moved into Elam and proudly documented the vengeance against Elamite incursions:
 
{{cquote|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.|author=Ashurbanipal<ref name="Healy54">{{cite book|last=Healy|first=Mark|title=The Ancient Assyrians|location=New York|publisher= Osprey|year=1991|pages=54}}</ref>}}
 
With Elam destroyed, the Assyrians returned to find their Empireempire 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.
 
[[File:Battle of Ulai, Elam, 653 BCE, British Museum.jpg|thumb|center|upright=4|Relief of the [[Battle of Ulai]], [[British Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wall panel; relief British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1851-0902-8-b |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref>]]
 
==See also==
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{{reflist}}
 
{{coord missing|Iran}}
[[Category:650s BC]]
 
[[Category:640s BC]]
[[Category:639 BC]]
[[Category:7th-century BC conflicts]]
[[Category:Battles involving Assyria|Elam]]
[[Category:7th century BC in Assyria]]
[[Category:Elam]]
[[Category:Esarhaddon]]
[[Category:Ashurbanipal]]
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