The expeditions of Sargon to the north and north-east had results less splendid than those which he undertook to the south-west and the south; but it may be doubted whether they did not more severely try his military skill and the valor of his soldiers.  The mountain tribes of Zagros, Taurus, and Niphates,—­Medes, Armaenians, Tibarini, Moschi, etc.,—­were probably far braver men and far better soldiers than the levies of Egypt, Susiana, and Babylon.  Experience, moreover, had by this time taught the tribes the wisdom of uniting against the common foe, and we find Ambris the Tibareni in in alliance with Mita the Moschian, and Urza the Armenian, when he ventures to revolt against Sargon.  The submission of the northern tribes was with difficulty obtained by a long and fierce struggle, which—­so far as one belligerent was concerned —­terminated in a compromise.  Ambris was deposed, and his country placed under an Assyrian governor; Mita consented, after many years of resistance, to pay a tribute; Urza was defeated, and committed suicide, but the general pacification of the north was not effected until a treaty was made with the king of Van, and his good-will purchased by the cession to him of a considerable tract of country which the Assyrians had previously taken from Urza.

On the side of Media the resistance offered to the arms of Sargon seems to have been slighter, and he was consequently able to obtain a far more complete success.  Having rapidly overrun the country, he seized a number of the towns and “annexed them to Assyria,” or, in other words, reduced a great portion of Media into the form of a province.  He also built in one part of the country a number of fortified posts.  He then imposed a tribute on the natives, consisting entirely of horses, which were perhaps required to be of the famous Nisaean breed.

After his fourteenth year, B.C. 708, Sargon ceased to lead out his troops in person, employing instead the services of his generals.  In the year B.C. 707 a disputed succession gave him an opportunity of interference in Illib, a small country bordering on Susiana.  Nibi, one of the two pretenders to the throne, had applied for aid to Sutruk-Nakhunta, king of Elam, who held his court at Susa, and had received the promise of his favor and protection.  Upon this, the other claimant, who was named Ispabara, made application to Sargon, and was readily received into alliance, Sargon sent to his assistance “seven captains with seven armies,” who engaged the troops of Sutruk-Naklnurta, defeated them, and established Ispabara on the throne?  In the following year, however, Sutruk-Nakhunta recovered his laurels, invading Assyria in his turn, and capturing cities which he added to the kingdom of Susiana.