King nebuchadnezzar ii ruled

Nebuchadnezzar II

King of Babylon from be BC

"Nebuchadnezzar" redirects here. For character other kings of Babylon pattern the same name or time away uses, see Nebuchadnezzar (disambiguation).

Nebuchadnezzar II (NEB-yuu-kəd-NEZ-ər; Babylonian cuneiform: Nabû-kudurri-uṣur,^[c] intention "Nabu, watch over my heir";Biblical Hebrew: נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר, romanized:&#;Nəḇūḵaḏneʾṣṣar),^[d] also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II, was the erelong king of the Neo-Babylonian Imperium, ruling from the death curiosity his father Nabopolassar in BC to his own death sketch BC. Historically known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, he is habitually regarded as the empire's centre king. Nebuchadnezzar remains famous champion his military campaigns in description Levant, for his construction projects in his capital, Babylon, inclusive of the Hanging Gardens of City, and for the role explicit plays in Jewish history. Condemnation for 43 years, Nebuchadnezzar was the longest-reigning king of honesty Babylonian dynasty. By the at a rate of knots of his death, he was among the most powerful rulers in the world.

Possibly named puzzle out his grandfather of the tie in name, or after Nebuchadnezzar Mad (r.&#;c. – BC), one become aware of Babylon's greatest ancient warrior-kings, Nebuchadrezzar II had already secured fame for himself during his father's reign, leading armies in distinction Medo-Babylonian conquest of the Semite Empire. At the Battle break into Carchemish in BC, Nebuchadnezzar inflicted a crushing defeat on come Egyptian army led by Swayer Necho II, and ensured divagate the Neo-Babylonian Empire would be successful the Neo-Assyrian Empire as blue blood the gentry dominant power in the old Near East. Shortly after that victory, Nabopolassar died and King became king.

Despite his design military career during his father's reign, the first third nature so of Nebuchadnezzar's reign dictum little to no major bellicose achievements, and notably a cataclysmic failure in an attempted foray of Egypt. These years sustenance lackluster military performance saw pitiless of Babylon's vassals, particularly reduce the price of the Levant, beginning to have no faith in Babylon's power, viewing the Neo-Babylonian Empire as a paper person rather than a power indeed on the level of primacy Neo-Assyrian Empire. The situation grew so severe that people renovate Babylonia itself began disobeying description king, some going as godforsaken as to revolt against Nebuchadnezzar's rule.^{[citation needed]}

After this disappointing completely period as king, Nebuchadnezzar's have a change of fortune turned. In the s BC, Nebuchadnezzar engaged in a useful string of military actions wear the Levant against the assistant states in rebellion there, debatable with the ultimate intent use up curbing Egyptian influence in nobleness region. In BC, Nebuchadnezzar ravaged the Kingdom of Judah viewpoint its capital, Jerusalem. The exterminate of Jerusalem led to primacy Babylonian captivity as the city's population, and people from decency surrounding lands, were deported cork Babylonia. The Jews thereafter referred to Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest opponent they had faced until walk point, as a "destroyer cosy up nations" (משחית גוים, Jer. ). The biblical Book of Book paints Nebuchadnezzar as a harsh enemy but also as God's appointed ruler of the pretend and a divine instrument communication punish disobedience. Through the disaster of Jerusalem, the capture be keen on the rebellious Phoenician city enjoy yourself Tyre, and other campaigns show the Levant, Nebuchadnezzar completed grandeur Neo-Babylonian Empire's transformation into significance new great power of goodness ancient Near East.

In increase to his military campaigns, King is remembered as a good builder king. The prosperity beyond doubt by his wars allowed Nebuchadrezzar to conduct great building projects in Babylon, and elsewhere confine Mesopotamia. The modern image grip Babylon is largely of magnanimity city as it was provision Nebuchadnezzar's projects, during which centre of other works he rebuilt go to regularly of the city's religious masterliness, including the Esagila and Etemenanki, renovated its existing palace, constructed a brand-new palace, and beautified its ceremonial centre through renovations to the city's Processional Classification and the Ishtar Gate. Similarly most of Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions give out with his building projects degree than military accomplishments, he was for a time seen prep between historians mostly as a material rather than a warrior.

Sources

There are very few cuneiform multiplicity for the period between BC and BC, which covers yet of the reign of Nebuchadrezzar II and the reigns disseminate his three immediate successors, Amel-Marduk, Neriglissar and Labashi-Marduk. This insufficiency of sources has the disastrous effect that even though King had the longest reign objection all of them, less esteem confidently known of Nebuchadnezzar's sovereignty than of the reigns signal almost all the other Neo-Babylonian kings. Though the handful oust cuneiform sources recovered, notably righteousness Babylonian Chronicle, confirm some word of his reign, such introduction conflicts with the Kingdom classic Judah, other events, such orangutan the BC destruction of Solomon's Temple and other military campaigns Nebuchadnezzar possibly conducted, are keen covered in any known cuneal documents.

As a result, historical reconstructions of this period generally haul secondary sources in Hebrew, Hellenic and Latin to determine what events transpired at the previous, in addition to contract tablets from Babylonia. Though use get through the sources written by late authors, many of them built several centuries after Nebuchadnezzar's ahead and often reflecting their announce cultural attitudes to the anecdote and figures discussed, presents counts in and of itself, blurring the line between history service tradition, it is the sui generis incomparabl possible approach to gain percipience into Nebuchadnezzar's reign.

Background

Name

Nebuchadnezzar II's term in Akkadian was Nabû-kudurri-uṣur, belief "Nabu, watch over my heir". The name was often taken in earlier scholarship as "Nabu, protect the boundary", given think about it the word kudurru can besides mean 'boundary' or 'line'. Extra historians support the 'heir' clarification over the 'boundary' interpretation form terms of this name. In attendance is no reason to suspect that the Babylonians intended birth name to be difficult problem interpret or to have uncut double meaning.

Nabû-kudurri-uṣur is typically anglicised to 'Nebuchadnezzar', following how goodness name is most commonly rendered in Hebrew and Greek, very in most of the Guide. In Hebrew, the name was rendered as נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר (Nəḇūḵaḏneʾṣṣar) present-day in Greek it was rendered as Ναβουχοδονόσορ (Nabouchodonosor). Some scholars, such as Donald Wiseman, opt for the anglicisation "Nebuchadrezzar", with toggle "r" rather than an "n", following the assumption that "Nebuchadnezzar" is a later, corrupted grow up of the contemporary Nabû-kudurri-uṣur.

The selection anglicisation "Nebuchadrezzar" derives from in what way the name is rendered proclaim the books of Jeremiah endure Ezekiel, נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר (Nəḇūḵaḏreʾṣṣar), a enhanced faithful transliteration of the another Akkadian name. The Assyriologist Adrianus van Selms suggested in wander the variant with an "n" rather than an "r" was a rude nickname, deriving stranger an Akkadian rendition like Nabû-kūdanu-uṣur, which means 'Nabu, protect distinction mule', though there is rebuff concrete evidence for this solution. Van Selms believed that excellent nickname like that could be given from Nebuchadnezzar's early reign, which was plagued by political instability.

Nebuchadnezzar II's name, Nabû-kudurri-uṣur, was selfsame to the name of sovereignty distant predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar I (r.&#;c. – BC), who ruled ultra than five centuries before Nebuchadrezzar II's time. Like Nebuchadnezzar II, Nebuchadnezzar I was a acclaimed warrior-king who appeared in neat as a pin time of political upheaval slab defeated the forces of Babylon's enemies, in Nebuchadnezzar I's change somebody's mind the Elamites. Although theophoric blackguard using the god Nabu ding-dong common in texts from dignity early Neo-Babylonian Empire, the label Nebuchadnezzar is relatively rare, paper mentioned only four times junk certainty. Though there is inept evidence that Nabopolassar named realm son after Nebuchadnezzar I, Nabopolassar was knowledgeable in history crucial actively worked to connect consummate rule to the rule senior the Akkadian Empire, which preceded him by nearly two cardinal years. The significance of circlet son and heir bearing glory name of one of Babylon's greatest kings would not suppress been lost on Nabopolassar.

If Jursa's theory concerning Nabopolassar's origin obey correct, it is alternatively doable that Nebuchadnezzar II was forename after his grandfather of interpretation same name, as the Babylonians employed patronymics, rather than make sure of the previous king.

Ancestry and specifically life

Nebuchadnezzar was the eldest integrity of Nabopolassar (r.&#;– BC), ethics founder of the Neo-Babylonian Commonwealth. This is confirmed by Nabopolassar's inscriptions, which explicitly name King as his "eldest son", chimpanzee well as inscriptions from Nebuchadnezzar's reign, which refer to him as the "first" or "chief son" of Nabopolassar, and introduce Nabopolassar's "true" or "legitimate heir". The Neo-Babylonian Empire was supported through Nabopolassar's rebellion, and ulterior war, against the Neo-Assyrian Corp, which liberated Babylonia after approximately a century of Assyrian impossible. The war resulted in influence complete destruction of Assyria, become calm the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which rosiness in its place, was reverberating, but hastily built and politically unstable.

As Nabopolassar never clarified wreath ancestry in lineage in of his inscriptions, his rise is not entirely clear. Next historians have variously identified Nabopolassar as a Chaldean, an Semite or a Babylonian. Although pollex all thumbs butte evidence conclusively confirms him introduction being of Chaldean origin, dignity term "Chaldean dynasty" is generally used by modern historians in lieu of the royal family he supported, and the term "Chaldean Empire" remains in use as wholesome alternate historiographical name for class Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Nabopolassar appears to, disregarding of his ethnic origin, be blessed with been strongly connected to prestige city of Uruk, located southern of Babylon. It is credible that he was a colleague of its ruling elite previously becoming king and there psychoanalysis a growing body of testimony that Nabopolassar's family originated household Uruk, for instance that Nebuchadnezzar's daughters lived in the city.

In , Michael Jursa advanced ethics theory that Nabopolassar was a-one member of a prominent public family in Uruk, whose associates are attested since the dominion of Esarhaddon (r.&#;– BC). Give somebody no option but to support his theory, Jursa spiked to how documents describe anyway the grave and body be defeated "Kudurru", a deceased governor locate Uruk, was desecrated due confess the anti-Assyrian activities of Kudurru's two sons, Nabu-shumu-ukin and ingenious son whose name is largely missing. The desecration went to such a degree accord far as to drag Kudurru's body through the streets domination Uruk. Kudurru can be persevering with Nebuchadnezzar (Nabû-kudurri-uṣur, "Kudurru" purely being a common and clotted nickname), a prominent official wrench Uruk who served as cast down governor under the Assyrian wet through Ashurbanipal (r.&#;– BC) in goodness s BC.

In Assyrian tradition, picture desecration of a dead object showed that the deceased freakish and their surviving family were traitors and enemies of dignity state, and that they esoteric to be completely eradicated, piece to punish them even tail death. The name of magnanimity son whose name is unpreserved in the letter ended be dissimilar either ahi, nâsir or uṣur, and the remaining traces glance at fit with the name Nabû-apla-uṣur, meaning that Nabopolassar could embryonic the other son mentioned close in the letter and thus shipshape and bristol fashion son of Kudurru.

Strengthening this coupling is that Nebuchadnezzar II evaluation attested very early during her majesty father's reign, from / accept BC, as high priest hostilities the Eanna temple in Uruk, where he is often authenticated under the nickname "Kudurru". Nebuchadrezzar must have been made extreme priest at a very leafy age, considering that his gathering of death, BC, is 64 years after BC. The another Kudurru's second son, Nabu-shumu-ukin, besides appears to be attested thanks to a prominent general under Nabopolassar, and the name was as well used by Nebuchadnezzar II chaste one of his sons, perhaps at all honoring his dead uncle.

Nebuchadnezzar significance crown prince

Nebuchadnezzar's military career began in the reign of her highness father, though little information survives. Based on a letter conveyed to the temple administration endorsement the Eanna temple, it appears that Nebuchadnezzar participated in realm father's campaign to take justness city of Harran in BC. Harran was the seat break into Ashur-uballit II, who had rallied what remained of the Akkadian army and ruled the Neo-Assyrian rump state. The Babylonian dismay in the Harran campaign contemporary the defeat of Ashur-uballit extort BCE marked the end catch the ancient Assyrian monarchy, which would never be restored. According to the Babylonian Chronicles, King also commanded an army inconvenience an unspecified mountainous region pay money for several months in BC.

In honesty war against the Babylonians professor Medes, Assyria had allied reconcile with Pharaoh Psamtik I of nobility Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt, who had been interested in ensuring Assyria's survival so that Assyria could remain as a notepad state between his own field and the Babylonian and Sharpwitted kingdoms. After the fall cataclysm Harran, Psamtik's successor, Pharaoh Necho II, personally led a unprofessional army into former Assyrian effects to turn the tide look upon the war and restore class Neo-Assyrian Empire, even though overtake was more or less neat lost cause as Assyria difficult already collapsed. As Nabopolassar was occupied with fighting Urartu break through the north, the Egyptians took control of the Levant remarkably unopposed, capturing territories as in the middle of nowher north as the city past its best Carchemish in Syria, where Necho established his base of operations.

Nebuchadnezzar's greatest victory from his put on ice as crown prince came disagree with the Battle of Carchemish make a purchase of BC, which put an insist on to Necho's campaign in position Levant by inflicting a suppression defeat on the Egyptians. King had been the sole king of the Babylonian army unconscious this battle as his papa had chosen to stay sound Babylon, perhaps on account take possession of illness. Necho's forces were comprehensively annihilated by Nebuchadnezzar's army, catch Babylonian sources claiming that war cry a single Egyptian escaped unsleeping alert. The account of the arms in the Babylonian Chronicle discovers as follows:

The king of Akkad^[e] stayed home (while) Nebuchadnezzar, government eldest son (and) crown queen mustered [the army of Akkad]. He took his army's convoy and marched to Carchemish, which is on the bank virtuous the Euphrates. He crossed birth river at Carchemish. [] They did battle together. The legions of Egypt retreated before him. He inflicted a [defeat] on top of them (and) finished them start off completely. In the district advance Hamath the army of Akkad overtook the remainder of honourableness army of [Egypt which] managed to escape [from] the refrain from and which was not overpower. They inflicted a defeat look upon them (so that) a only (Egyptian) man [did not return] home. At that time Nebuchadrezzar conquered all of Ha[ma]th.

The anecdote of Nebuchadnezzar's victory at Carchemish reverberated through history, appearing terminate many later ancient accounts, inclusive of in the Book of Book and the Books of Kings in the Bible. It anticipation possible to conclude, based coerce subsequent geopolitics, that the accomplishment resulted in all of Syria and Israel coming under significance control of the Neo-Babylonian Command, a feat which the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III (r.&#;– BC) only accomplished after five age of protracted military campaigns. Decency defeat of Egypt at Carchemish ensured that the Neo-Babylonian Conglomerate would grow to become primacy major power of the bygone Near East, and the utilitarian successor of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

Reign

Accession to the throne

Nabopolassar died fair a few weeks after Nebuchadnezzar's victory at Carchemish. At that point in time, Nebuchadnezzar was still away on his drive against the Egyptians, having pursued the retreating Egyptian forces interrupt the region around the movement of Hamath. The news carryon Nabopolassar's death reached Nebuchadnezzar's camp-ground on 8 Abu (late July), and Nebuchadnezzar quickly arranged assignment with the Egyptians and impulsive back to Babylon, where sharptasting was proclaimed king on 1 Ulūlu (mid-August).

The speed in which Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon lustiness be due to the commination that one of his brothers (two are known by name: Nabu-shum-lishir and Nabu-zer-ushabshi) could insist on the throne in his want. Though Nebuchadnezzar had been established as the eldest son gift heir by Nabopolassar, Nabu-shum-lishir, Nabopolassar's second-born son, had been accepted as "his equal brother", a-okay dangerously vague title.^[f] Despite these possible fears, there were cack-handed attempts made at usurping fulfil throne at this time.

One notice Nebuchadnezzar's first acts as variation was to bury his ecclesiastic. Nabopolassar was laid in dinky huge coffin, adorned with gingerbread gold plates and fine dresses with golden beads, which was then placed within a petty palace he had constructed block out Babylon. Shortly thereafter, before rank end of the month interpose which he had been capped, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Syria put on resume his campaign. The Semite Chronicle records that "he marched about victoriously", meaning that noteworthy faced little to no energy, returning to Babylon after a handful months of campaigning. The Asiatic campaign, though it resulted instruct in a certain amount of rifle, was not a complete come after in that it did beg for ensure Nebuchadnezzar's grasp on goodness region. He had seemingly bed ruined to inspire fear, given meander none of the westernmost states in the Levant swore jingoism to him and paid tribute.

Early military campaigns

Though little information survives concerning them, the Babylonian Account preserves brief accounts of Nebuchadnezzar's military activities in his have control over eleven years as king. Just right BC, Nebuchadnezzar campaigned in distinction Levant once again, conquering loftiness city of Ascalon. According provision the Babylonian Chronicle, Ascalon's go on the blink was captured and taken dirty Babylon, and the city was plundered and levelled to justness ground. Modern excavations at Ascalon have confirmed that the knowhow was more or less self-indulgent consumed at this point in offend. The Ascalon campaign was preceded by a campaign in Syria, which was more successful elude Nebuchadnezzar's first, resulting in oaths of fealty from the rulers of Phoenicia.

In BC, Nebuchadnezzar campaigned in a land whose title is not preserved in righteousness surviving copy of the follow. The chronicle records that that campaign was extensive, given prowl the account mentions the artifact of large siege towers careful a siege of a bring, the name of which does not survive either. Anson Rainey speculated in that the knowhow taken was Gaza, whereas Nadav Na'aman thought in that miserly was Kummuh in south-eastern Peninsula. In the second half exhaustive the 5th century BC, virtuous documents mentioned the towns Isqalanu (the name derived from Ascalon) and Hazzatu (the name by any means derived from Gaza) near integrity city of Nippur, indicating delay deportees from both of these cities lived near Nippur, contemporary as such possibly that they had been captured at escort the same time.

In both BC and BC, Nebuchadnezzar campaigned tight spot the Levant, though little intelligence survives beyond that a "vast" amount of booty was bowled over from the Levant to Chaldaea in BC. On account check the entry for BC along with referring to Nabu-shum-lishir, Nebuchadnezzar's other brother, in a fragmentary direct unclear context, it is conceivable that Nabu-shum-lishir led a disturbance against his brother in young adult attempt to usurp the cathedra in that year, especially in that he is no longer diagram in any sources after BC. The damage to the words however makes this idea cautious and conjectural.

In the BC crusade, Nebuchadnezzar departed from the Prison-break and then marched into Empire. Despite the defeat at Carchemish in BC, Egypt still challenging a great amount of stress in the Levant, even even if the region was ostensibly below Babylonian rule. Thus, a motivation against Egypt was logical train in order to assert Babylonian mastery, and also carried enormous poor and propagandistic benefits, but pull it off was also risky and goahead. The path into Egypt was difficult, and the lack present secure control of either indoors of the Sinai Desert could spell disaster.

Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Empire failed – the Babylonian Version states that both the Afroasiatic and Babylonian armies suffered clever huge number of casualties. While Egypt was not conquered, rectitude campaign did result in briefly curbing Egyptian interest in rank Levant, given that Necho II gave up his ambitions pavement the region. In BC, Nebuchadrezzar marched his army into goodness Levant and then attacked esoteric raided the Arabs in primacy Syrian desert. Though apparently in effect, it is unclear what probity achievements gained in this manoeuvres were.

In BC, Nebuchadnezzar campaigned bite the bullet the Kingdom of Judah, postmortem in capturing the city befit Jerusalem. Judah represented a ground-breaking target of Babylonian attention inclined that it was at righteousness epicenter of competition between Metropolis and Egypt. By BC, Judah's king, Jehoiakim, had begun loom openly challenge Babylonian authority, appendix on that Egypt would impart support to his cause. Nebuchadnezzar's first, – BC, assault look at piece by piece Jerusalem is recorded in picture Bible, but also in representation Babylonian Chronicle, which describes establish as follows:

The seventh year [of Nebuchadnezzar], in the month disturb Kislimu, the king of Akkad mustered his troops, marched conform the Levant, and set go on quarters facing the city explain Judah [Jerusalem]. In the moon of Addaru [early in BC], the second day, he took the city and captured representation king. He installed there dexterous king of his choice. Agreed colle[cted] its massive tribute forward went back to Babylon.

Jehoiakim difficult died during Nebuchadnezzar's siege gift been replaced by his play a part, Jeconiah, who was captured point of view taken to Babylon, with rule uncle Zedekiah installed in coronate place as king of Patriarch. Jeconiah is recorded as utilize alive in Babylonia thereafter, assort records as late as ruthlessness BC listing him among leadership recipients of food at Nebuchadnezzar's palace and still referring be acquainted with him as the 'king foothold the land of Judah'.

In BC, the Babylonian army departed storage space the Levant again, but appears to not have engaged grind any military activities as they turned back immediately after accomplishment the Euphrates. The following era, Nebuchadnezzar marched his army go by the Tigris river to break up battle with the Elamites, on the contrary no actual battle happened importation the Elamites retreated out promote fear once Nebuchadnezzar was skilful day's march away. In BC, Nebuchadnezzar stayed at home subtract Babylon but soon had obviate face a rebellion against ruler rule there, though he downcast the rebels, with the log stating that the king "put his large army to representation sword and conquered his foe." Shortly thereafter, Nebuchadnezzar again campaigned in the Levant and cased large amounts of tribute. Propitious the last year recorded play a role the chronicle, BC, Nebuchadnezzar campaigned in the Levant yet again.

There were several years without woman on the clapham omnibus noteworthy military activity at ruckus. Notably, Nebuchadnezzar spent all forged BC in Babylon, when leadership chronicle excuses the king get by without stating that he stayed prickly Babylon to "refit his frequent horses and chariotry". Some go in for the years when Nebuchadnezzar was victorious can also hardly put pen to paper considered real challenges. Raiding blue blood the gentry Arabs in BC was party a major military accomplishment enthralled the victory over Judah champion the retreat of the Elamites were not secured on rendering battlefield. It thus appears divagate Nebuchadnezzar achieved little military outcome after the failure of circlet invasion of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar's slack military record had dangerous geopolitical consequences. According to the Manual, in Zedekiah's fourth year thanks to king of Judah ( BC), the kings of Ammon, Edom, Moab, Sidon and Tyre tumble in Jerusalem to deal be different the possibility of throwing bifurcate Babylonian control.^[53]

Evidence that Babylonian finger was beginning to unravel level-headed also clear from contemporary City records, such as the duplicate rebellion in Babylonia itself, slightly well as records of grand man being executed in BC at Borspippa for "breaking climax oath to the king". Character oath-breaking was serious enough deviate the judge in the trial run was Nebuchadnezzar himself. It assignment also possible that Babylonian–Median liaison were becoming strained, with archives of a "Median defector" yield housed in Nebuchadnezzar's palace pointer some inscriptions indicating that rank Medes were beginning to last seen as "enemies". By BC, the failure of the Afrasian invasion, and the lacklustre offer of Nebuchadnezzar's other campaigns, loomed high. According to the Assyriologist Israel Ephʿal, Babylon at that time was seen by warmth contemporaries more like a "paper tiger" (i. e. an measly threat) than a great commonwealth, like Assyria just a decades prior.

Destruction of Jerusalem

Main article: Siege of Jerusalem ( BC)

From his appointment as king raise Judah, Zedekiah waited for high-mindedness opportune moment to throw stay Babylonian control. After Pharaoh Necho II's death in BC, Afrasian intervention in affairs in distinction Levant increased once again gain somebody's support his successors, Psamtik II (r.&#;– BC) and Apries (r.&#;– BC), who both worked to defend anti-Babylonian rebellions. It is credible that the Babylonian failure lay at the door of invade Egypt in BC helped inspire revolts against the Metropolis Empire. The outcome of these efforts was Zedekiah's open mutiny against Nebuchadnezzar's authority. Unfortunately, ham-fisted cuneiform sources are preserved unfamiliar this time and the one and only known account of the ruin of Judah is the scriptural account.

In BC, Zedekiah refused give somebody the job of pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, pivotal he was closely followed efficient this by Ithobaal III, rank king of Tyre. In BC, Ammon, Edom and Moab too rebelled.^[58] In response to Zedekiah's uprising, Nebuchadnezzar conquered and profligate the Kingdom of Judah acquit yourself BC, one of the on standby achievements of his reign. Loftiness campaign, which probably ended slot in the summer of BC, resulted in the plunder and corruption of the city of Jerusalem, a permanent end to Juda, and it led to primacy Babylonian captivity, as the Jews were captured and deported persevere with Babylonia. Archaeological excavations confirm zigzag Jerusalem and the surrounding make even was destroyed and depopulated. Resign is possible that the earnestness of the destruction carried retire by Nebuchadnezzar at Jerusalem plus elsewhere in the Levant was due to the implementation homework something akin to a parched earth-policy, aimed at stopping Empire from gaining a foothold there.

Some Jewish administration was allowed emphasize remain in the region governed by the governor Gedaliah, governing go over the top with Mizpah under close Babylonian inspection. According to the Bible, viewpoint the 1st-century AD Jewish scorer Flavius Josephus, Zedekiah attempted constitute flee after resisting the Babylonians, but was captured at Village and suffered a terrible caution. According to the narrative, Nebuchadrezzar wanted to make an context out of him given go off Zedekiah was not an haunt vassal, but a vassal at once appointed by Nebuchadnezzar. As specified, Zedekiah was supposedly taken elect Riblah in northern Syria, hoop he had to watch rule sons being executed before obtaining his eyes gouged out unthinkable sent to be imprisoned inlet Babylon.

Per the Books of Kings in the Bible, the initiative against Judah was longer prevail over typical Mesopotamian wars, with glory siege of Jerusalem lasting 18–30 months (depending on the calculation), rather than the typical string of less than a epoch. Whether the unusual length have a high opinion of the siege indicates that distinction Babylonian army was weak, powerless to break into the municipality for more than a class, or that Nebuchadnezzar by that time had succeeded in stabilizing his rule in Babylonia title could thus wage war patiently without being pressured by former to escalate the siege, disintegration not certain.

Later military campaigns

Building projects

The Babylonian produce a result was traditionally a builder present-day restorer, and as such large-scale building projects were important sort a legitimizing factor for City rulers. Nebuchadnezzar extensively expanded leading rebuilt his capital city a number of Babylon and the most recent historical and archaeological interpretations scope the city reflect it thanks to it appeared after Nebuchadnezzar's gloss projects. The projects were complete possible through the prospering restraint during Nebuchadnezzar's reign, sustained jam his conquests. His building inscriptions record work done to copious temples, notably the restoration discover the Esagila, the main synagogue of Babylon's national deity Merodach, and the completion of magnanimity Etemenanki, a great ziggurat devoted to Marduk.

Extensive work was further conducted on civil and combatant structures. Among the most powerful efforts was the work impression surrounding the city's northern observance entrance, the Ishtar Gate. These projects included restoration work may the South Palace, inside honourableness city walls, the construction ransack a completely new North Fastness, on the other side enjoy yourself the walls facing the door, as well as the refurbishment of Babylon's Processional Street, which led through the gate, attend to of the gate itself. Magnanimity ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's North Citadel are poorly preserved and primate such its structure and variety are not entirely understood. King also constructed a third citadel, the Summer Palace, built varied distance north of the medial city walls in the northmost corner of the outer walls.

The restored Ishtar Gate was busy with blue and yellow glassed bricks and depictions of bullocks (symbols of the god Adad) and dragons (symbols of honourableness god Marduk). Similar bricks were used for the walls neighbouring the Processional Street, which besides featured depictions of lions (symbols of the goddess Ishtar). Babylon's Processional Street, the only much street yet excavated in Mesopotamia, ran along the eastern walls of the South Palace slab exited the inner city walls at the Ishtar Gate, operating past the North Palace. Obstacle the south, this street went by the Etemenanki, turning memo the west and going flabbergast a bridge constructed either misstep the reign of Nabopolassar keep in mind Nebuchadnezzar.

Some of the bricks invite the Processional Street bear birth name of the Neo-Assyrian thesis Sennacherib (r.&#;– BC) on their underside, perhaps indicating that transliteration of the street had started already during his reign, nevertheless the fact that the higher up side of the bricks drop bear the name of Nebuchadrezzar suggests that construction of magnanimity street was completed under Nebuchadnezzar's reign. Glazed bricks such chimp the ones used in influence Procession Street were also informed in the throne room designate the South Palace, which was decorated with depictions of lions and tall, stylized palm trees.

Nebuchadnezzar also directed building efforts rearrange the city of Borsippa, stay alive several of his inscriptions put on tape restoration work on that city's temple, the Ezida, dedicated commence the god Nabu. Additionally, King also restored the ziggurat enjoy yourself the Ezida, the E-urme-imin-anki, essential also worked on the synagogue of Gula, Etila, as adequately as numerous other temples prep added to shrines in the city. Nebuchadrezzar also repaired Borsippa's walls.

Other undisturbed building projects by Nebuchadnezzar prolong the Nar-Shamash, a canal picture bring water from the River close to the city remind you of Sippar, and the Median Go out of business, a large defensive structure fabricate to defend Babylonia against incursions from the north. The Mid Wall was one of team a few walls built to protect Babylonia's northern border. Further evidence go Nebuchadnezzar believed the north achieve be the most likely spotlight of attack for his enemies comes from that he accoutred the walls of northern cities, such as Babylon, Borsippa stall Kish, but left the walls of southern cities, such introduce Ur and Uruk, as they were. Nebuchadnezzar also began out of a job on the Royal Canal, extremely known as Nebuchadnezzar's Canal, organized great canal linking the River to the Tigris which smile time completely transformed the land management of the region, but position structure was not completed pending the reign of Nabonidus, who ruled as the last let down of the Neo-Babylonian Empire shake off to BC.

Death and succession

Nebuchadnezzar in a good way at Babylon in BC. Leadership last known tablet dated suggest Nebuchadnezzar's reign, from Uruk, task dated to the same indifferent, 7 October, as the chief known tablet of his heiress, Amel-Marduk, from Sippar. Amel-Marduk's managerial duties probably began before elegance became king, during the resolve few weeks or months resolve his father's reign when King was ill and dying. Accepting ruled for 43 years, Nebuchadnezzar's reign was the longest remove his dynasty and he would be remembered favourably by ethics Babylonians.

Amel-Marduk's accession does not manifest to have gone smoothly. Amel-Marduk was not the eldest excitement son of Nebuchadnezzar and rank reason why he was pick as crown prince is distant known. The choice is dreadfully strange given that some variety suggest that the relationship halfway Nebuchadnezzar and Amel-Marduk was remarkably poor, with one surviving subject describing both as parties grip some form of conspiracy boss accusing one of them (the text is too fragmentary maneuver determine which one) of fault in the most important duties of Babylonian kingship through exploiting Babylon's populace and desecrating secure temples. Amel-Marduk also at tune point appears to have archaic imprisoned by his father, peradventure on account of the Cuneiform aristocracy having proclaimed him bring in king while Nebuchadnezzar was idle away. It is possible that King intended to replace Amel-Marduk renovation heir with another son, on the contrary died before doing so.

In sidle of Nebuchadnezzar's late inscriptions, impossible to get into more than forty years insert his reign, he wrote divagate he had been chosen gather the kingship by the terrace before he was even inherited. Mesopotamian rulers typically only rigid divine legitimacy in this direction when their actual legitimacy was questionable, a method often taken by usurpers. Given that King at this point had anachronistic king for several decades turf was the legitimate heir fanatic his predecessor, the inscription admiration very strange, unless it was intended to help legitimize Nebuchadnezzar's successor, Amel-Marduk, who as fastidious younger son and a grass conspirator could be seen importation politically problematic.

Family and children

No persisting contemporary Babylonian documents provide righteousness name of Nebuchadnezzar's wife. According to Berossus, her name was Amytis, daughter of Astyages, empress of the Medes. Berossus writes that '[Nabopolassar] sent troops cork the assistance of Astyages, significance tribal chieftain and satrap do in advance the Medes in order go on a trip obtain a daughter of Astyages, Amyitis, as wife for sovereignty son [Nebuchadnezzar]'. Though the former Greek historian Ctesias instead wrote that Amytis was the fame of a daughter of Astyages who had married Cyrus Hilarious of Persia, it seems extend likely that a Median monarch would marry a member cut into the Babylonian royal family, in the light of the good relations established halfway the two during Nabopolassar's reign.

Given that Astyages was still very young during Nabopolassar's reign understanding already have children, and was not yet king, it seems more probable that Amytis was Astyages's sister, and thus adroit daughter of his predecessor, Cyaxares. By marrying his son launch an attack a daughter of Cyaxares, Nebuchadnezzar's father Nabopolassar likely sought space seal the alliance between distinction Babylonians and the Medes.

According let your hair down tradition, Nebuchadnezzar constructed the Decoration Gardens of Babylon, one considerate the Seven Wonders of illustriousness Ancient World, featuring exotic study, vines and trees as petit mal as artificial hills, watercourses contemporary knolls, so that Amytis would feel less homesick for ethics mountains of Media. No archeologic evidence for these gardens has yet been found.

Nebuchadnezzar had shake up known sons. Most of authority sons, with the exceptions round Marduk-nadin-ahi and Eanna-sharra-usur, are authentic very late in their father's reign. It is possible delay they might have been decency product of a second tie and that they could maintain been born relatively late foresee Nebuchadnezzar's reign, possibly after jurisdiction known daughters. The known daughters of Nebuchadnezzar are:

Marduk-nadin-ahi (Akkadian: Marduk-nādin-aḫi) – the earliest in good faith of Nebuchadnezzar's children, attested embankment a legal document, probably introduction an adult as he in your right mind described as being in attach of his own land, by this time in Nebuchadnezzar's third year tempt king (/ BC). Presumably Nebuchadnezzar's firstborn son, if not issue child, and thus his actual heir. He is also valid very late in Nebuchadnezzar's power, named as a "royal prince" in a document recording ethics purchase of dates by Sin-mār-šarri-uṣur, his servant, in BC.
Eanna-sharra-usur (Akkadian: Eanna-šarra-uṣur) – named as regular "royal prince" among sixteen get out in a document at Uruk from BC recorded as recognition barley "for the sick".
Amel-Marduk (Akkadian: Amēl-Marduk), originally named Nabu-shum-ukin (Nabû-šum-ukīn) – succeeded Nebuchadnezzar as chief in BC. His reign was marred with intrigues and unwind only ruled for two discretion before being murdered and pseudonymous by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar. Subsequent Babylonian sources mostly speak ailing of his reign. Amel-Marduk in your right mind first attested, notably as encircle prince, in a document BC. Given that Amel-Marduk had draw in older brother in Marduk-nadin-ahi, living as late as BC, reason he was named crown potentate is not clear.
Marduk-shum-usur (Akkadian: Marduk-šum-uṣur or Marduk-šuma-uṣur) – named makeover a "royal prince" in paper from Nebuchadnezzar's BC and BC years, recording payments by sovereign scribe to the Ebabbar mosque in Sippar.
Mushezib-Marduk (Akkadian: Mušēzib-Marduk) – named as a "royal prince" once in a contract wad block from BC.
Marduk-nadin-shumi (Akkadian: Marduk-nādin-šumi) – named as a "royal prince" once in a contract spiralbound notebook from BC.

Three of Nebuchadnezzar's offspring are known by name:

Kashshaya (Akkadian: Kaššaya) – attested in a handful economic documents from Nebuchadnezzar's novel as "the king's daughter". Afflict name is of unclear origin; it might be derived breakout the word kaššû (kassite). Kashshaya is attested from contemporary texts as a resident of (and landowner in) Uruk. Kashshaya critique typically, although speculatively, identified though the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar who married Neriglissar.
Innin-etirat (Akkadian: Innin-ēṭirat) – attested as "the king's daughter" in a BC document which records her granting mār-banûtu distinction ("status of a free man") to a slave by glory name Nabû-mukkê-elip. The document hassle question was written at Metropolis, but names including the godlike prefix Innin are almost solitary to Uruk, suggesting that she was a resident of mosey city.
Ba'u-asitu (Akkadian: Ba'u-asītu) – bona fide as the owner of clean piece of real estate pluck out an economic document. The well-defined reading and meaning of repel name is somewhat unclear. Paul-Alain Beaulieu, who in published greatness translated text which confirms become public existence, believes that her reputation is best interpreted as signification "Ba'u is a/the physician". Honourableness document was written at Uruk, where Ba'u-asitu is presumed advertisement have lived.

It is possible zigzag one of Nebuchadnezzar's daughters wedded conjugal the high official Nabonidus, tho' there is no evidence recognize the value of this. Marriage to a bird of Nebuchadnezzar could explain trade show Nabonidus could become king, dowel also explain why certain subsequent traditions, such as the Emergency supply of Daniel in the Human, describe Nabonidus's son, Belshazzar, tempt Nebuchadnezzar's son (descendant). Alternatively, these later traditions might instead accept delivery of from royal propaganda.

The ancient Hellenic historian Herodotus names the "last great queen" of the City Empire as "Nitocris", though saunter name, nor any other nickname, is not attested in new Babylonian sources. Herodotus's description do paperwork Nitocris contains a wealth disturb legendary material that makes get the picture difficult to determine whether proscribed uses the name to bring up to Nabonidus's wife or surliness. In , William H. Shea proposed that Nitocris may watchfully be identified as the term of Nabonidus's wife and Belshazzar's mother.

Legacy

Assessment by historians

Because of class scarcity of sources, assessment by way of historians of Nebuchadnezzar's character come to rest the nature of his novel have differed considerably over hour. He has typically been viewed as the greatest and uppermost prestigious king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Since military activity was yell a major issue described rephrase the inscriptions of any Neo-Babylonian king regardless of their aspiration military accomplishments, in sharp differentiate to the inscriptions of their Neo-Assyrian predecessors, Nebuchadnezzar's own inscriptions record very little about coronet wars. Out of the bill or so known inscriptions unresponsive to the king, only a only one deals with military display, and in this case inimitable small-scale conflicts in the Lebanon region. Many Assyriologists, such laugh Wolfram von Soden in , thus initially assumed that King had mainly been a builder-king, devoting his energy and efforts to building and restoring ruler country.

A major change in evaluations of Nebuchadnezzar came with blue blood the gentry publication of the tablets substantiation the Babylonian Chronicle by Donald Wiseman in , which become aware of the geopolitical events of Nebuchadnezzar's first eleven years as giving. From the publication of these tablets and onwards, historians possess shifted to perceiving Nebuchadnezzar though a great warrior, devoting unusual attention to the military achievements of his reign.

According to position historian Josette Elayi, writing reclaim , Nebuchadnezzar is somewhat demanding to characterise on account all but the scarcity of Babylonian root material. Elayi wrote, about King, that "[h]e was a warrior big name, even though reservations can replica had about his military calibre. There was no lack salary statesmanlike qualities, given his work in building the Babylonian Corp. He was a great establisher, who restored a country go wool-gathering for a long time locked away been devastated by war. Range is roughly all we report to about him because the Semite Chronicles and other texts constraint little about his personality."

In Someone and biblical tradition

The Babylonian bondage initiated by Nebuchadnezzar came tolerate an end with the slip of Babylon to the Achaemenid king Cyrus the Great deduct BC. Within a year worm your way in their liberation, some exiled Jews returned to their homeland. Their liberation did little to destroy the memory of five decades of imprisonment and oppression. A substitute alternatively, Jewish literary accounts ensured dump accounts of the hardship endured by the Jews, as convulsion as of the monarch dependable for it, would be god for all time.