1290 Under his son and successor, Tukulti-Ninib I, there is renewed trouble between Assyria and Babylonia. Invasion of Babylonia; capital taken. Conquered city governed from Calah, Assyrian officers stationed both in the north and south of the country. Tukulti-Ninib adopts the title of “King of Sumer and Accad” in addition to his former titles, “King of Kishshati” and “King of Asshur.” This rule over Babylonia maintained for seven years only. The king is killed in civil war. The most brilliant reign in Assyrian history up to this time. The steady and rapid progress of the Assyrians now checked.
1280 Rapid decline of Assyrian power under Asshurnazirpal I, Tukulti-Ninib’s son. An attack of Babylonia is repulsed with difficulty.
1250 Under his successors, Asshur-narara and Nabu-daian, the Assyrian power continues to wane, while the Babylonian increases.
1240-1235 Under Bel-kudur-usur and Ninib-apal-esharra Assyria is invaded by the Babylonians under Meli-shipak and Marduk-apal-iddin. All the southern and part of the northern and western conquered territory lost.
1210 Under Asshur-dan I rehabilitation of Assyrian power. He crosses the Lower Zab, invades Babylonian territory, and restores a small section of it to Assyria.
1150 Further Assyrian gains under Mutakkil-Nusku and Asshur-rish-ishi, who 1140 restores temple of Ishtar at Calah.
SECOND PERIOD, 1120-885 B.C.
1120 Tiglathpileser I (Tukulti-apal-esharra, my help is the god Ninib).—He builds up anew the Assyrian Empire, and thus records his work of conquest: “In all forty-two countries and their kings from the Lower Zab (and) the border of the distant mountains to beyond the Euphrates to the land of the Hittites and the Upper Sea of the Setting Sun, from the beginning of my sovereignty until my fifth year my hand has conquered.” His great success in war equalled by a marvellous story of peaceful achievements. The capital of Assyria brought back from Calah to Asshur; the temples of Ishtar, Adad, and Bel rebuilt, palaces restored and rebuilt.
Monuments.—The eight-sided prism found at Calah: several fragmentary annals of the early years of his reign.
1090 Under his successors, Asshur-bel-kala and Shamshi-Adad III, both sons of Tiglathpileser, further peaceful development, with gradually a falling off in the power and dignity of the kingdom. The former king maintains terms of peace with the king of Babylonia, Marduk-shapik-zer-mati, who thereby seems to be considered an independent monarch. As to Shamshi-Adad I, he is known to us only as the rebuilder of the temple of Ishtar in Nineveh.