Iblul-Il (reigned c. 2380 BC),[2] was the most energetic king (
Lugal) of the second
Mariote kingdom, noted for his extensive campaigns in the middle
Euphrates valley against the
Eblaites, and in the upper
Tigris region against various opponents, which asserted the Mariote supremacy in the
Syrian north.
Reign
Sources
Iblul-Il is attested in Mari, where statues bearing his name were excavated in 1952 from the city's temples.[3] However, the deeds of the king are recorded in a letter sent to Ebla by
Enna-Dagan, a successor of Iblul-Il.[4]
Campaigns
Iblul-Il campaigned extensively against Ebla and its vassals and allies.[4] The offensive was probably due to Ebla's increasing militaristic character, and was meant to block the trade route between
Kish,
Nagar and Ebla.[5] Iblul-Il was a contemporary of Ebla's king
Igrish-Halam,[5] and is mentioned in the letter of Enna-Dagan campaigning in the middle Euphrates defeating the city of
Galalaneni,[6] and engaging in a victorious battle with
Abarsal in the region of
Zahiran,[note 1][8] which he destroyed.[6] Next, Iblul-Il campaigned in the region of
Burman of the land of
Sugurum, where he defeated the cities of
Shadab,
Addalini and
Arisum.[6] The campaigns continued as the king sacked the cities of
Sharan and
Dammium,[6]
and advanced on
Neraad and
Hasuwan, receiving the tribute from Ebla at the city of
Mane,[9] and from the fortress
Khazuwan, then continued his march and conquered
Emar.[6]
In the Tigris valley, Iblul-Il defeated the cities of
Nahal,
Nubat and
Sha-da from the region of
Gasur, at a battle in the land of
Ganane.[note 2][10] Iblul-Il is finally mentioned in the letter conquering the Eblaite cities of
Barama,
Aburu,
Tibalat and
Belan.[note 3][6] The Mariote king successfully achieved his goals and weakened Ebla, exacting a great amount of tribute in the form of gold and silver.[5]
Succession
Iblul-Il was succeeded by
Nizi.[13] The letter of Enna-Dagan is extremely difficult to read,[14] and early decipherment presented the author as a general of Ebla who defeated and deposed Iblul-Il.[15] However, newer readings confirmed Enna-Dagan as a king from Mari,[6] and further decipherment of the
archives of Ebla showed Enna-Dagan receiving gifts from Ebla as a prince of Mari during the reigns of his Mariote predecessors.[16][17]
^Abarsal is probably located along the Euphrates river east of Ebla.[7]
^According to
Michael Astour, those three cities belonged to the region named Gasur-Nuzi in the northern Tigris area.[10] However, other scholars such as
Marco Bonechi place Gasur in the middle
Euphrates valley to the northwest of Mari.[11]
Bonechi, Marco (1998). "Remarks on the III Millennium Geographical Names of the Syrian Upper Mesopotamia". In Lebeau, Marc (ed.). About Subartu. Studies Devoted to Upper Mesopotamia. Volume I: Landscape, Archeology, Settlement. Volume II: Culture, society, Image. Subartu (SUBART). Vol. 4. Brepols Publishers.
ISBN978-2-503-50652-4.
Iblul-Il (reigned c. 2380 BC),[2] was the most energetic king (
Lugal) of the second
Mariote kingdom, noted for his extensive campaigns in the middle
Euphrates valley against the
Eblaites, and in the upper
Tigris region against various opponents, which asserted the Mariote supremacy in the
Syrian north.
Reign
Sources
Iblul-Il is attested in Mari, where statues bearing his name were excavated in 1952 from the city's temples.[3] However, the deeds of the king are recorded in a letter sent to Ebla by
Enna-Dagan, a successor of Iblul-Il.[4]
Campaigns
Iblul-Il campaigned extensively against Ebla and its vassals and allies.[4] The offensive was probably due to Ebla's increasing militaristic character, and was meant to block the trade route between
Kish,
Nagar and Ebla.[5] Iblul-Il was a contemporary of Ebla's king
Igrish-Halam,[5] and is mentioned in the letter of Enna-Dagan campaigning in the middle Euphrates defeating the city of
Galalaneni,[6] and engaging in a victorious battle with
Abarsal in the region of
Zahiran,[note 1][8] which he destroyed.[6] Next, Iblul-Il campaigned in the region of
Burman of the land of
Sugurum, where he defeated the cities of
Shadab,
Addalini and
Arisum.[6] The campaigns continued as the king sacked the cities of
Sharan and
Dammium,[6]
and advanced on
Neraad and
Hasuwan, receiving the tribute from Ebla at the city of
Mane,[9] and from the fortress
Khazuwan, then continued his march and conquered
Emar.[6]
In the Tigris valley, Iblul-Il defeated the cities of
Nahal,
Nubat and
Sha-da from the region of
Gasur, at a battle in the land of
Ganane.[note 2][10] Iblul-Il is finally mentioned in the letter conquering the Eblaite cities of
Barama,
Aburu,
Tibalat and
Belan.[note 3][6] The Mariote king successfully achieved his goals and weakened Ebla, exacting a great amount of tribute in the form of gold and silver.[5]
Succession
Iblul-Il was succeeded by
Nizi.[13] The letter of Enna-Dagan is extremely difficult to read,[14] and early decipherment presented the author as a general of Ebla who defeated and deposed Iblul-Il.[15] However, newer readings confirmed Enna-Dagan as a king from Mari,[6] and further decipherment of the
archives of Ebla showed Enna-Dagan receiving gifts from Ebla as a prince of Mari during the reigns of his Mariote predecessors.[16][17]
^Abarsal is probably located along the Euphrates river east of Ebla.[7]
^According to
Michael Astour, those three cities belonged to the region named Gasur-Nuzi in the northern Tigris area.[10] However, other scholars such as
Marco Bonechi place Gasur in the middle
Euphrates valley to the northwest of Mari.[11]
Bonechi, Marco (1998). "Remarks on the III Millennium Geographical Names of the Syrian Upper Mesopotamia". In Lebeau, Marc (ed.). About Subartu. Studies Devoted to Upper Mesopotamia. Volume I: Landscape, Archeology, Settlement. Volume II: Culture, society, Image. Subartu (SUBART). Vol. 4. Brepols Publishers.
ISBN978-2-503-50652-4.