Tiglath-Pileser

(Assyrian, Tukulti-apil-Esharra). In Assyria. Of greatest importance:

Tiglath-pileser I. Died circa 1076 B.C. King from about 1114 B.C. to about 1076 B.C.

Tiglath-pileser I conducted several victorious campaigns in Nairi (the region of Lakes Urmia and Van), Asia Minor, Syria, and Phoenicia and warred against Babylonia with intermittent success. He drove the nomadic Aramaean tribes that were threatening Assyria back beyond the Euphrates.

Tiglath-pileser III. Died 727 B.C. King from 745 B.C. to 727 B.C.

Tiglath-pileser III carried out reforms that did much to stabilize the domestic political situation. He broke up the larger provinces into smaller units and made the governors of the provinces subordinate to the central power. He created a standing army based on conscription and maintained at his expense.

Tiglath-pileser III resumed Assyria’s policy of military conquest. In the west, between 743 and 740, he defeated the Arpad coalition, which united the rulers of Syria, Phoenicia, and Asia Minor and was supported by Urartu. In a war fought between 734 and 732, he defeated an alliance formed by Damascus, Israel, Tyre, the Philistine cities, the Arabian principalities, and Edom. In 737 he secured western Media. In the north, he carried out two expeditions against Urartu, in 738 and 735. Twice, at the beginning and end of his reign, Tiglath-pileser III attacked Babylonia, where Chaldean leaders were attempting to take control. In 729 he became king of Babylonia under the name of Pulu, thereby merging Assyria and Babylonia in his person.

Most of the lands conquered by Tiglath-pileser III, became Assyrian provinces; some areas were made states dependent on Assyria. He followed a policy of mass resettlement of peoples from one conquered region to another or to Assyria.