Esarhaddon, King of Assyria

Esarhaddon, King of Assyria continues Josette Elayi's narrative journey through the lives of the kings of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Using both archaeological and textual evidence, Elayi examines the contentious circumstances surrounding Esarhaddon's accession to the throne in 681 BCE, his rebuilding of Babylon, which had been destroyed by his father Sennacherib, his successful campaigns in Media, the Arabian Peninsula, Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the Levant, and his ultimate achievement, the conquest of Egypt in 671 BCE. Throughout, Elayi presents a rich portrait of this enigmatic figure, whose short but impactful reign was plagued by chronic illness and a complex—and ultimately fatal—relationship with his court officials. Yet, through it all, Esarhaddon emerges as one of the most scholarly and most politically successful kings of the empire.