His name, Assur-bani-apli, means “The god Ashur is the creator of the heir”, suggesting rather a throne name related to his appointment as crown prince.
His learning skills, literacy and training convinced Esarhaddon to involve him in the state affairs and later, upon consulting the oracles, to appoint him heir of the Assyrian throne. Following came Ashurbanipal’s entering the bīt redȗti and the imposition of loyalty oaths. Thus, early in his reign, with the occasion of a palatial work, an emphasis was put on Ashurbanipal’s legitimacy to be the occupant of the throne.
During the first 20 years of Ashurbanipal's reign, his brother SamaS-Sum-ukin was appointed king of Babylonia, but later revolted against his brother. In 648 BC, Ashurbanipal was victorious in the civil war and took over the kingship of Babylonia. This situation gave him direct access to all the Babylonian temple archives.
His empire was extended to include Palestine, Phoenician kingdoms, Syria, Mesopotamia, Oaratu, Elam and Egypt. In his reign, the Assyrian empire had enjoyed the wealth, well-being and power. It was celebrated during his victories by establishing major buildings in the cities of Mesopotamia, especially the city of Nineveh.
He ruled from a lavish palace ‘without rival’ in the city of Nineveh. It was decorated with amazing reliefs and carvings – built to be ‘an object of wonder for all the people’.
Ashurbanipal assembled in Nineveh the first systematically organized library in the ancient Middle East named Royal Library of Ashurbanipal. The library collection of more than 30,000 clay tablets and fragments containing texts of all kinds from the 7th century BC, including texts in various languages.
The Ashurbanipal's battle against the Elamites on the River of Olay was one of the most famous ancient historical battles. The Elamite king Teumman was killed in battle around 653 BC.
After Ashurbanipal's death, the Assyrian empire fell soon after, His great city of Nineveh was destroyed in 612 and its ruins lost to history until the 19th century.
King of Ashurbanipal: the last great king of Assyria
