Assurbanipal

Assurbanipal was the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, ruling from 668 to circa 631 BCE. He is known for his extensive military campaigns and his patronage of the arts and literature. Assurbanipal ascended to the throne after his father, Esarhaddon, died. His reign was marked by internal strife, including a significant revolt led by his own brother, Shamash-shum-ukin, who was viceroy of Babylon. Assurbanipal eventually suppressed this rebellion after a prolonged and devastating conflict.

His military efforts extended across the Neo-Assyrian Empire's vast territories, including campaigns against Egypt, Elam, and various Arabian tribes. Assurbanipal's reign saw the Neo-Assyrian Empire reach its greatest territorial extent. He was also a renowned scholar and collector. His palace at Nineveh housed an immense library, which contained tens of thousands of clay tablets. These tablets covered a wide range of subjects, including history, religion, medicine, astronomy, and literature, most notably the Epic of Gilgamesh. The preservation of these texts provides invaluable insight into Mesopotamian civilization. Assurbanipal's death is believed to have occurred around 631 BCE, and his death preceded the eventual collapse of the Neo-Assyrian Empire by only a few decades.