Irkab-Damu (reigned c. 2340 BC), ^[4] was the king ( Malikum) of the first Eblaite kingdom, whose era saw Ebla's turning into the dominant power in the Levant. ^{[5] [6]}

During his reign, the vizier started to acquire an important role in running the affair of the state and the military. Irkab-Damu's reign is also noted for the wide diplomatic relations between Ebla and the surrounding kingdoms. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Reign

Irkab-Damu succeeded king Igrish-Halam, ^{[10] [11]} whose reign was characterized by an Eblaite weakness, and tribute paying to the kingdom of Mari with whom Ebla fought a long war. ^[8] Irkab-Damu started his reign by concluding a peace and trading treaty with Abarsal (probably located along the Euphrates river east of Ebla), ^[12] one of the first recorded treaties in history. ^[13] Ebla paid tribute to Mari during Irkab-Damu's first years on the throne. ^[8] A letter from king Enna-Dagan of Mari was discovered at Ebla, ^[14] and was used by the Mariote monarch as a tool to assert Mari's authority, ^[14] as it contained a historic telling of the victories won by Enna-Dagans's predecessors over Ebla. ^[15]

Expansion

Irkab-Damu launched a successful counteroffensive against Mari, and ended the tribute. ^{[5] [6]} He expanded the borders of Ebla to its greatest extent, and controlled an area roughly half the size of modern Syria, ^[16] half of which was under the direct control of the king and administered by governors, while the rest consisted of vassal kingdoms paying tribute and supplying military assistance to Ebla. ^[16] A tablet from Ebla mention an Eblaite victory over Nagar, most probably during Irakb-Damu's reign. ^[17] The same tablet mention the concluding of a treaty with Enna-Dagan. ^[17] Irkab-Damu appointed Arrukum as the first vizier of Ebla, ^[18] who kept his office for five years, ^[19] and had his son Ruzi-Malik marrying princess Iti-Mut, the daughter of the king. ^[1]

Diplomacy was an important part of Irkab-Damu's policy, a clay tablet found in the archives at Ebla, bears a copy of a diplomatic message sent from Ebla to king Zizi of Hamazi, along with a large quantity of wood, hailing him as a brother, ^[20] and requesting him to send mercenaries in exchange. ^[21] Gifts from Ancient Egypt were discovered in the royal palace, indicating the far reaching relations of Ebla, ^[22] which is described by Karl Moore as the history first world power. ^[23]

Succession and family

Irkab-Damu was the son of Igrish-Halam and his queen Kesdut. ^[24] He ruled for eleven years, ^[12] and married Dusigu in his fifth year on the throne. ^[25] Irkab-Damu last two years saw the rise of vizier Ibrium, ^[19] who campaigned against Abarsal during Arrukum's term, ^[7] and became Ebla's strongest official during the reign of Irkab-Damu's son and successor Isar-Damu. ^[7]

See also

• Ebla tablets
• Cities of the ancient Near East
• Eblaite-Mariote war

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Frayne, Douglas (2008). Pre-Sargonic Period: Early Periods, Volume 1 (2700-2350 BC). University of Toronto Press. ISBN  978-1-442-69047-9.
• Hamblin, William (2006). Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC: Holy Warriors at the Dawn of History. Routledge. ISBN  978-1-134-52062-6.
• Liverani, Mario (2013). The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy. Routledge. ISBN  978-1-134-75091-7.
• Podany, Amanda (2010). Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East. Oxford University Press. ISBN  978-0-199-79875-9.