Ipiq-Adad II

Ipiq-Adad II
Ensi (issakkum) of Eshnunna
Reign19th century BC
PredecessorIbal-pi-El I
SuccessorNaram-Sin of Eshnunna
HouseDynasty of Eshnunna
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Location of Eshnunna.

Ipiq-Adad II was a king of the city kingdom of Eshnunna in ancient Mesopotamia. He reigned c. 1862-1818 BC.[1] He was the son of Ibal-pi-el ensi (Governor) of Eshnunna. Upon his ascent he used the title ensi but, later in his reign he shifted to describing himself as lugal (king). He was the first ruler of Eshnunna to use the term lugal since Shu-iliya. Inscriptions also refer to him as “king who enlarges Eshnunna”, “shepherd of the black headed people”, and “king of the universe”.[2] He oversaw a great expansion of the state and laid the foundation for Eshnunna to become a regional power.

Ipiq-Adad II’s military expeditions are well documented by the Mari eponym chronicles which mention his campaigns to expand Eshnunna. In 1857 BC Ipiq-Adad II campaigned against Aminum attempting to seize Shaduppum (which Aminum had just recently gained control over), although at first defeated, he was successful in their second confrontation two years later.[3] Following this he took Me-Turan.[4]

Sin-iddinam's recent conquest of Malgium was extending his state north, in the direction of Eshnunna. Ipiq-Adad's own expansion may have conflicted with Larsa's ambitions possibly motivating Sin-iddinam's raid of Eshnunna in 1844 BC. Eshnunna was shortly after invaded again, this time by the Elamites in 1823 BC.[4]

After these two brief incursions against Eshnunna, Ipiq-Adad II massively enlarged his state starting in 1828 BC when he took Arrapha to the north. Then, to consolidate the Diyala region, he defeated Sin-abushu, king of Nerebtum and likely a vassal of Eshnunna. In his campaign against Sin-abushu he also annexed Uzarlulu and Tutub.[1][4]

Ipiq-Adad II then set his sights on the Euphrates. He took Rapiqum, his first city on the Euphrates, and expanded Eshnunna up the Euphrates to the Suhum region bordering Mari.[1][5]

He was succeeded by his son Naram-Sin who continued the expansion of Eshnunna.

  1. ^ a b c de Boer, Rients (2014). "Ipiq-Adad II and the consolidation of the Diyala region". Amorites in the Early Old Babylonian Period (PhD thesis). Leiden University.
  2. ^ Frayne, Douglas (1990). Old Babylonian period, 2003-1595 BC. Toronto : University of Toronto Press. pp. 544–552. ISBN 0802058736.
  3. ^ Glassner, Jean-Jacques (2004). Mesopotamian Chronicles. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature. pp. 161–163. ISBN 1-58983-090-3.
  4. ^ a b c Charpin, Dominique (2004). HISTOIRE POLITIQUE DU PROCHE-ÜRIENT AMORRITE (2002-1595) [Political History of the Near-Eastern Amorite (2002-1595)] (in French). Fribourg & Göttingen. pp. 128–133. ISBN 3-525-53063-3.
  5. ^ van Koppen, Franz; Lacambre, Denis (2009). "Sippar and the Frontier between Ešnunna and Babylon. New Sources for the History of Ešnunna in the Old Babylonian Period". Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux. 41: 158–162.