III.—­The Crisis of the Assyrian Power

Esarhaddon was personally inclined for peace, for he delighted in building; but unfortunate disturbances did not permit him to pursue his favourite occupation without interruption, and, like his warlike predecessors, he was constrained to pass most of his life on the battlefield.  He began his reign by quelling an insurrection of the Cimmerians in the territories on the border of the Black Sea.  Sidon rebelled ungratefully, although his father had saved her from desolation by Tyre.  He stormed and burnt the city.  The Scythian tribes came on the field in 678 B.C., but they were diplomatically conciliated.

Now followed a memorable event.  Babylon was rebuilt.  Esarhaddon used all the available captives taken in war on the foundations and the fabrication of bricks, erected walls, rebuilt all the temples, and lavishly devoted gold, silver, costly stones, rare woods, and plates of enamel to decoration.  The canals were made good for the gardens, and the people, who had been scattered in various provinces, were encouraged to return to their homes.

But fresh foreign complications arose through the support given continually to recalcitrant states in the south of Egypt.  Esarhaddon was provoked to undertake the first actual invasion of Egypt in force by Assyria for the purpose of subduing the country.  Over a great combination of the Egyptians and Ethiopians he won a crushing victory.  Memphis was taken and sacked.  Henceforth, Esarhaddon, in his pride, styled himself King of Egypt, and King of the Kings of Egypt, of the Said, and of Ethiopia.  But he was not very long permitted to enjoy the glory of his triumph; a determined revolt of the conquered country demanded a fresh campaign.  He set out, but was in bad health, and, his malady increasing, he died on the journey in the twelfth year of his reign.

Before starting on the expedition, he had realised the impossibility of a permanent amalgamation of Assyria and Babylon, notwithstanding his personal affection for Babylon.  Accordingly, he designated as his successors his two sons.  Assurbanipal was to be King of Assyria, and Shamash-shumukin King of Babylon, under the suzerainty of his brother.  As soon as Esarhaddon had passed away, the separation he had planned took place automatically, the two sons proclaiming themselves respectively kings of Assyria and Babylon.  Thus Babylon regained half its independence.  But the Assyrian Empire was now at its zenith.  Egypt was quelled by the army of Esarhaddon, and to Assurbanipal submitted in vassalage the nations of the Mediterranean coast.

Now followed years of exhausting warfare and of victory after victory, which fatally wasted the strength of Assyria.  Never had the empire been so respected; never had so many nations united under one sceptre.  But troubles accumulated.  Mutiny in Egypt called for another expedition, which led to the capture and sacking of Thebes.  Next came a war with Elam, ending in its subjection to Assyria, for the first time in history.