Shalmaneser

Shalmaneser is a regnal name used by several Assyrian kings in the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods. The name is rendered in Akkadian as Šalmanu-šarrāʾ, commonly interpreted as meaning “the god Shulmanu is the king” or “the god Shulmanu is king.” It appears in royal inscriptions and chronicles from different eras of the Assyrian state.

Shalmaneser I (circa 1273–1264 BCE) is known from the Assyrian king lists and inscriptions as an early imperial figure who helped consolidate and expand Assyrian power in northern Mesopotamia during the Middle Assyrian period. His reign is noted for strengthening state administration and military capacity, laying groundwork for later expansions.

Shalmaneser III (859–824 BCE) is the best-documented bearer of the name in the royal archive. A driving force in Neo-Assyrian expansion, he conducted numerous campaigns in Syria and the broader west, building a network of client polities. The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III records several campaigns and tributes, including a depiction of Jehu, King of Israel, and the famous Qarqar alliance formed in 853 BCE to oppose his advance.

Shalmaneser V (727–722 BCE) is chiefly remembered for beginning the siege of the Kingdom of Israel’s capital, Samaria. The city fell during this period, and Shalmaneser V died before the capture was completed; his successor, Sargon II, continued the campaign and established control over the former Israelite territory.

In biblical and classical scholarship, the name Shalmaneser is used to refer to these rulers and to the historical events surrounding Assyria’s interactions with neighboring states during the first millennium BCE.