Sargon, the Great, of Akkad (Sharru-kin "Rightful King") (circa
2334-2279 B.C.)
=====================================
First great
empire builder
Formed the first Semitic Dynasty
Considered the founder of
the Mesopotamian military tradition.
56-year reign
As Legends go(so
take it with a grain of salt): Father unknown, mother may have been a priestess.
When he was a baby, found in a basket floating down river by a gardener (Moses
anybody?). Got a position as cupbearer for Ur-Zababa, the king of Kish.
NOTE: Kish was a country in Sumer. He has a dream that he drowns
Ur-Zababa and he tells Ur-Zababa. Ur-Zababa tries to have Sargon killed, but
Sargon survives (apparently through divine intervention). Ur-Zababa sends Sargon
to king Lugalzagesi of Uruk with a message to have Sargon murdered. Story is
lost after this. Possibly through king Lugalzagesi of Uruk, Sargon became king
(some sources say).
Marched on Uruk against king
Lugalzagesi.
Defeated king Lugalzagesi; becoming king of southern
Mesopotamia.
Retained all the lands king Lugalzagesi had under his rule and
successfully defeated every city that tried to breaak free (several references
indicate numerous battles with no available details).
Defeated cities along
the middle Euphrates to northern Syria and southern Anatolia.
Dominated Susa,
capital city of the Elamites in the Zagros Mountains (Western Iran).
Under
Sargon's rule, commerical trade thrived.
Built the city of Agade (never has
been located, apparently it was destroyed at the end of the Sargon
Dynasty).
TRADE ROUTE: with the Indus Valley (today's Pakistan), Oman,
Afghanistan region, Lebanon, Taurus Mountains, Crete and islands in the Persian
Gulf.
Last decade of his reign was filled with rebellions (it appears
that his large kingdom was more than what his administration skills could
handle).
The Sargon Dynasty lasted about 160 years. It was destroyed by the
Gutian barbarians from the Zagros mountains (
circa 2180
B.C.)
REGIONAL CONTROL: Mouth of the Persian Gulf (modern
Kuwait) up the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys, down into Syria and the
Mediterranean coast.
(Replicating Lugalzagesi's region of control, but much
more influencial throughout the region)
NOTE
[1] Erech
is the biblical name of Uruk (modern Tall al-Warka).
[2] Again some dates
show his reign to be 2340-2305 B.C.
[3] His daughter, Enheduanna, is the
author of several Akkadian hymns.
![](uploads/TravisCongleton/2006-03-11_155908_Akkadian_Empire_Map.gif)
Edited by Travis Congleton