Tiglath-pileser III

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The manner of Tiglath-Pileser's accession to the throne has been a subject of debate due to the conflicting written evidence about his parentage. It is unusual in that there are surprisingly few references to Tiglath-Pileser's father. Among the references that do exist, there is an inscribed brick from Ashur stating that he was the son of Adad-Nirari, most likely referring to Adad-Nirari III (810-783). On the other hand, a witness of the Assyrian king list states that he was the son of Ashur-Nirari, meaning Ashur-Nirari V (754-745). As Grayson goes on to discuss, the most likely resolutions of this contradiction are either that the scribe of the king list witness made an error, meaning to write Adad-Nirari instead of Ashur-Nirari, the latter being the elder brother of Tiglath-Pileser, or the scribe of the brick inscription purposefully wrote Adad-Nirari when in fact he was not the son of royalty (CAH III/2 pg. 73). Grayson also cites Tiglath-Pileser's use of the vague royal epithet "offspring of Baltil" (which refers to an ancient quarter of Ashur) as evidence that the new king wished to avoid direct references to his pedigree (ibid. pg. 74).

By the beginning of Tiglath-Pileser's reign, Urartu's influence had extended enormously, drawing some of the Syrian states away from Assyria, and taking control of part of Mannea and possibly reaching down to the Khorasan route connecting Ecbatana and the Babylonian plain (Kuhrt 496).

Invaded Urartu up to the capital city of Tushpa on Lake Van.

Extended provincial status to some north Syrian states and Damascus, made vassal kingdoms in Palestine up to Egypt. Governed Babylon directly as king.

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