FROM WORLD-DOMINION TO SUBJECTION. 



109 



changes, and passed more than once under the rule of the kings 

 of the daughter-state, Assyria, which had acknowledged the 

 overlordship of Babylon even during the reign of Hammu-rabi. 

 In this we may, perhaps, see the result of a less enervating 

 climate than that of the south, notwithstanding the success of 

 the Babylonians on the whole in war and the more civilizing 

 activities of life. How far the Assyrians, on their side, were 

 civilizers, is uncertain, but such an energetic people as they 

 were must have had their ideas, like their southern neighbours. 



For a long time it had been the desire of the Assyrian kings 

 to become masters of Babylonia, and, as already stated, they had 

 from time to time succeeded, but failed to make permanent the 

 conquest of the land. This was therefore undertaken by Sargon 

 of Assyria, who, however, seems to have found the task he had 

 set himself not an easy one. His opponent was Merodach- 

 baladan, the Chaldean chief of the tribe of Bit-Yakin, who had 

 ascended the Babylonian throne. Of the two pretenders, it is 

 probable that Sargon of Assyria had the better claim to the 

 rule of the land, as he was the descendant of two kings of 

 Assyria who were acknowledged at the same time as kings of 

 Babylonia. As a people akin to themselves, speaking the same 

 language, having the same literature, and professing practically 

 the same religion, the Babylonians probably had little or no 

 objection to Assyrian rule. Sargon, therefore, found the efforts 

 of his army crowned with success, and he was able, after a 

 solemn entry into Babylon, to take up his abode in Merodach- 

 baladan's palace, and receive the tribute of the Babylonian clans 

 which he had subjugated. The subjugation of the Chaldean 

 king only took place in 709 B.C. Sargon died (probably at the 

 hands of an assassin) in 705 B.C., and was succeeded by his son 

 Sennacherib. The Chaldean ruler, Merodach-baladaii, took 

 advantage of the change to come forth from his hiding-place, and 

 aided by the Elamites and such of his followers as he could get 

 together, succeeded in installing himself comfortably in his old 

 palace at Babylon. Merodach-baladan's fresh term as ruler, 

 however, was a short one, for the Assyrian king, having settled 

 his affairs as well as he was able, again invaded Babylonia, drove 

 out the Chaldean, taking much spoil and treasure, and reduced 

 to subjection a number of rebellious Chaldean and Aramean 

 tribes, including those of Puqudu (Pekod), Hagaranu, and 

 Nabatu (Nabatean). Merodach-baladan took refuge in i^agitu, 

 a city on the Elamite shore of the Persian Gulf. 



Apparently feeling that things in Babylonia would go better 

 under a Chaldean ruler, Sennacherib placed on the throne 



