The Reform of the Administration

This period of (relative) weakness
came to an abrupt; end with the coup staged by Tiglath-pileser,
who, as governor of Nineveh, proclaimed himself king of Assyria
in 745 B.C. It is notable that Tiglath-pileser’s inscriptions,
like those of Adad-nerari II, long before him, do not start
with the normal twofold claim of legitimate descent from the
previous king, and divine approval or election. Rather, his
inscriptions focus on his family links with Baltil, the oldest
portion of the city of Ashur, and his divine election as king.
The reason is obvious: Tiglath-pil.eser had no legitimate royal
.ancestry, and had to find other ways to make his position more
respectable.

Unfortunately it is very difficult to illustrate the great reforms of
Tiglath-pileser directly from the documentary sources. The evidence, though
valuable, is scattered through his inscriptions, which are probably the worst
preserved of those of any major Assyrian king. They were extensively damaged by
those who followed him. The following selections have been drawn together to
illustrate particular points of importance to do with the great administrative
changes introduced by the king. Most of the places named cannot be located with
any certainty; that is not a problem, as the general principal illustrated by
each case is our interest here.

(a)

Nineteen districts of Hamath, together with the cities around them, which
lie on the shore of the sea of the setting sun, had gone over to Azariah (1) in
revolt and in contempt of Assyria. I brought them within the borders of
Assyria. I set my officials over them as governors. I carried off 30,300 people
from their cities and put them in the province of the city of Ku[ . . . ]. I
settled 1,123 people in the province of the land of Ulluba.

(b)

I smote and captured the cities of Nikku [ . . . ] the cities of.Hista,
Harabisina, Barbaz and Tasa, as far as the Ulurush river. I carried off 8,650
people, [-. . . . . ] horses, 300 mules, 660 asses, 1,350 cattle and 19,000
sheep. I destroyed and devastated those . cities, burning them with fire.
[,. . . ] I brought within the Assyrian border. I rebuilt those cities and
settled in them people from the lands my hands had conquered. I set up in them
the weapon of Assur, my lord, and added them to the province of Nairi.
(c) I brought the entire land of Ulluba, the cities of Kashtirru, Parisu,
Tashuha, Mantupa, Sardaurri, as far as the cities of Galanal, Sikibsa, Asurdai,
Babutta, Lusia and Bisia, all Urartian strongholds, beyond Mount Nal, within
the Assyrian border. I built a city in Ulluba and called it Assur-ikisha.