Early Dynastic III Period (c.2440-2334)

Sumerian soldiers, from the Stele of the Vultures

Ur's Pax Sumerica came to an end. The period from the invasion of Awan to the rise of Lugalzaggessi of Uruk is short of historical records. The only real document we have is the Kings List, and it is damaged in sections. There is only a few brief times during this period that the land is unified.

Awan (c.2460-2420):
An Elamite city-state near Susa. The bitter struggle between Kish, Ur, Uruk and Lagash for control of Sumer must have weakened them because we now have the first foreign occupation of the land.
Igrish-Halam (c.2460)-Began incursions into Sumer?
Irkab-Damu (c.2450)-Overthrew the Ur Dynasty.
Ar-Ennum (c.2420)-Driven out of Sumer by En-Shakush-Anna of Uruk.

Hamazi (c.2450-2430):
An Elamite state. The second foreign power to rule in Sumer.
Hadanish (Hatanish) (c.2450-2430)-Some translations spell his name Hatanish. Defeated by En- Shakush-Anna of Uruk.

Lagash (c.2570-2342):
First of the non-"Big Three" (Kish, Ur, Uruk) to rule. The tutelary deity was Ningirsu, who was also called Ninurta and was the god of war.
"Dynasty 0"
En-Hegal (c.2570)-A vassal of Uruk?
Lugal-Shag-Engur (c.2550)-A vassal of Ur?
1st Dynasty
Ur-Nanshe (c.2494-2465)-He founded the 1st dynasty and threw of the domination of Ur. We do not know where he came from or how he came to power. It is possible that he was a Semite from the western land of Tidnum. Inscriptions have been found which read "the ships of Dilmun brought him wood as tribute from foreign lands". If true, his power may have extended into Iran and overseas. He was a great builder.
Akurgal (2465-2455)-Son of Ur-Nanshe. He may have been killed in a war with Ensi Ush of Umma.
Eannatum (2455-2425)-Son of Akurgal. He called himself "He who subjects the lands". Defeated Enakalle of Umma, who he made a tributary. He commemorated the victory by having the Stele of the Vultures made, which is the oldest historical document ever found. After this, he swept through Sumer, which had been liberated from the Elamites by Uruk, subduing Uruk, Ur and the other cities, as well as conquering part of Elam. Next he moved north to conquer Kish, Nippur and Akshak. Kish was still weak from a defeat at the hands of En-Shakush-Anna of Uruk. Zuzu, King of Akshak, led the northern coalition against Lagash. They marched into Lagashite territory, but were defeated, routed and pursued to the gates of Akshak. Eannatum was now recognized as supreme King and took the title of King of Kish. His tributary domains extended to Mari. There was a brief period of peace, then an attack from Elam which was barely repulsed. Next Kish and Akshak rebelled and were put down. A short time later the Elamites invaded again, while at the same time, a northern rebel coalition of Kish, Akshak, and Mari attacked. Eannatum was able to defeat both armies. Even though he was almost continually at war, he took the title of "Prostrater of the lands for Ningirsu". He may have died in a disastrous battle, because he was succeeded by his brother, and Lagash was never again a great power.
Enannatum I (2425-2405)-Brother of Eannatum. Ur-Lumma, Ensi of Umma attacked with the aid "of the foreigners" from the north of Sumer. He was able to crush the Ummaite army, but this also exhausted his forces. Into the power vacuum stepped Il, En of Hallab. He attacked and overran the remnants of Umma, proclaiming himself Ensi. Il then invaded Lagash but was pushed back. Lagash did however lose the northern portions of the state to Il.
Entemena (2405-2375)-Son of Enannatum. Finally overcame Il of Umma, but only with the help of Lugal-Kinishe-Dudu, King of Uruk and Ur. He fought the influence of the priests. Entemena was the last great Ensi of Lagash and his reign ended in peace and prosperity.
Enannatum II (2375-2365)-Son of Entemena.
Enetarzi (2365-2359)-An usurper. He was either installed by the priests or he was a priest himself. He fought the Elamites.
Lugalanda (2359-2352)-He was helped to the throne by the priesthood.
Urukagina (Uruinimgina) (2352-2342)-Some translations spell his name Uruinimgina. He was an usurper. The previous rulers of Lagash, especially the two usurpers installed by the priesthood, had terribly oppressed the people, both economically and militarily. There were excessive taxes on such occasions as weddings and funerals and land was "bought" by officials at far below market value. He claimed to have been chosen by the god Ningirsu to end the oppression of the poor. He destroyed much of the old bureaucracy. To the priests, he cut their income and ended their influence. He created a near idyllic state, but in so doing, weakened Lagash to the point that it could (or would) no longer defend itself from its mortal enemies, the Ummaites. Lugalzaggessi of Umma sacked Lagash and burned all of its holy temples. The priests of Lagash may have aided him. Urukagina fled to the town of Girsu, a possession of Lagash that did not seem to have fallen to Umma. Here he disappears from history. His documents proclaiming his reforms are the oldest in history to speak of freedom.

Uruk (c.2432-2340)
2nd Dynasty
En-Shakush-Anna (2432-2403)-He drove out the Elamites from Awan and Hamazi, but was in turn briefly made a vassal of Lagash. He then gained the overlordship of Sumer, calling himself En of Sumer and King of the Land.
Lugal-Kinishe-Dudu (Lugalure?) (C.2380)-Possibly the Lugalure of some lists. He ruled over Ur also and helped Lagash defeat Umma.
Lugalkisalsi (Argandea?) (C.2340)-Possibly the Argandea of some lists. Defeated by Lugalzaggessi?

Adab (c.2550-2400):
An important city up to the Sargonic Period. The last mention of it may have been under Hammurabi. The city was dedicated to the Goddess Ninhursag.
Nin-Kisalsi (c.2550)-A vassal of Ur.
Me-Durba-Son of Nin-Kisalsi. A vassal of Ur.
Lugal-Anne-Mundu (c.2400)-He was a great conqueror, who is said to have ruled Adab for 90 years. Later documents from his reign state that he controlled the entire fertile crescent, from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean and up to the Zagros, and including Elam. He was called "King of the Four Quarters of the Universe" and "He who made all the foreign lands pay steady tribute to him, who brought peace to the peoples of all the lands, who built the temples of all the great gods, who restored Sumer to its glory, who exercised Kingship over the entire world". 13 Ensis band together and rebel against him, but all are defeated. Most of the them, including those of the Elamite cities, had Semitic names. He later campaigned into the Zagros, extending his sway to Gutium. His empire, the largest up to this time, dissolved upon his death.

Kish (c.2500-2430)
Four unnamed kings reigned from c.2500.
Enbi-Ishtar (c.2430)-Defeated by En-Shakush-Anna of Uruk or Eannatum of Lagash?

Mari (c.2500-2334):
According to the Kings List, Mari gained control over parts of northern Sumer during this time.
Ilshu (c.2500-2480)
Lamgi-Mari (c.2480-2450)
Ikun-Shamash (c.2460-2445)
Ikun-Shamagan (c.2445-2425)-The first to conquer Sumerian territory?
Iblul-Il (c.2425)-He conquered Ebla.
Conquered by Sargon of Akkad c.2334

Akshak (c.2450-2360)
Unzi (c.2450-2440)-A vassal of Ur?
Undalulu (c.2440-2435)
Urur (Zuzu) (c.2435-2420)-Some translations spell his name Zuzu. He was defeated by Eannatum of Lagash.
Puzur-Nirah (c.2420-2400)
Ishu-Il (c.2400-2360)
Shu-Sin (c.2360)-Son of Ishu-Il. Defeated by Kish?

Ur (c.2430-2340)
2nd Dynasty
Four kings reigned during the 2nd Dynasty. Their names are damaged on the tablet. Defeated by Lugalzaggessi of Uruk?

Kish (c.2400)
3rd Dynasty
Ku-Bau (Ku-Baba) (c.2400)-Some translations spell her name Ku-Baba. The only woman to rule in Sumer and Akkad? Called "the innkeeper" and "she who made firm the foundations of Kish".

Kish (c.2360-2340)
4th Dynasty
Puzur-Sin (c.2360-2340)-Son of Ku-Bau.
Ur-Zababa (c.2340)-Son of Puzur-Sin. Sargon was his cup-bearer. He was defeated and possibly killed by Lugalzaggesi.
Simudarra-A vassal of Lugalzaggesi.
Usiwatar-A vassal of either Lugalzaggesi or Sargon.
Ishtar-Muti-A vassal of Sargon.
Ishme-Shamash-A vassal of Sargon.
Nannia-Called the stone worker. A vassal Sargon. Last King of the dynasty.

Uruk
3rd Dynasty
Lugalzaggesi (c.2345-2316)-Originally king of Umma. After he conquered Lagash, he went on and conquered the Uruk/Ur state and established Uruk as his capital. He called himself "the King of Uruk and King of the Land". He claimed to have ruled "from the lower sea along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to the upper sea". He was conquered by Sargon of Akkad who brought him in chains to Nippur. There he was chained to the front gates and left to be ridiculed.