Isin/Larsa Period (2004-1763)

With the fall of Ur, we see the end of the Sumerians as a political force. The Semites take over, but adopt Sumerian culture and worship Sumerian gods. With this period we have no central unified kingdom. First Isin, and then Larsa, attempt to re-establish the glory of Ur III, but with limited success. The old city-state ideal was destroyed and replaced with a kingdom-state system. Enlil's blessing had been needed for a city-state to dominate the other city-states. But in a nation- state atmosphere the "election" by Enlil was no longer needed in order to have domination over the cities. Because of this Nippur gradually lost its importance and Enlil his royal prerogative. This paved the way for the eventual elevation of the Babylonian god Marduk to the head of the pantheon. The title "King of Kish" was also abandoned. The Isin/Larsa Period is sometimes called the Late Period or the Isin Period and is also sometimes grouped in with the Old Babylonian Period.

Isin (2017-1794):
Isin became the most powerful city during the two centuries after the fall of Ur. The rulers of Isin were the most powerful because they ruled Isin, the new capital, Ur, the old capital, and Nippur, the spiritual center. It's Ensis claimed dominion over all of Sumer and Akkad, but in reality, the realm was comprised of small states. Even though they were Semites, the rulers of Isin considered themselves the true heirs of Ur and took their title of "King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad". Their official inscriptions were in Sumerian instead of Akkadian and they ordered the copying of all the great Sumerian literature. The city was dedicated to the goddess Nininsina.
Ishbi-Erra (2017-1985)-He was originally a servant of Ibbi-Sin of Ur. He was "not of Sumerian seed", probably being an Akkadian from Mari. Ibbi-Sin put him in charge of Nippur and Isin. He extended his sway from the Persian Gulf up the rivers to Hamazi, all at the expense of his "master" Ibbi-Sin. He also took Uruk. A few years after the fall of Ur, he attacked it, driving out the Elamites. He tried to establish a successor state to the Ur III dynasty, with limited success.
Shu-Ilishu (1985-1975)-Son of Ishbi-Erra. He invaded Elam and brought back the statue of Nanna that had been taken from Ur. He also rebuilt Ur from the destruction that the Elamites caused.
Iddin-Dagan (1975-1954)-Son of Shu-Ilishu. His reign was one of peace and prosperity. Sippar was for a time brought under his rule.
Ishme-Dagan (1954-1935)-Son of Idin-Dagan. He restored Nippur, which had been damaged from an earlier battle. Ishme-Dagan is referred to as the king who "set justice in the land", meaning social and/or economic reforms. He was repulsed in an attack at Kish, probably by the Assyrians.
Lipit-Ishtar (1935-1924)-Son of Isme-Dagan. He promulgated a new law code. Later, he "allowed" Larsa to occupy Ur, so as to defend it from the Amorites. The loss of Ur was a serious loss of prestige for Isin and consequently he is the last powerful Isin ruler. He died the year Ur was occupied.

Ur-Ninurta (1924-1896)-He was an usurper. He was defeated and killed in battle by Abi-Sare of Larsa.
Bur-Sin (1896-1874)-Son of Ur-Ninurta.
Lipit-Enlil (1874-1869)-Son of Bur-Sin.
Irra-Imitti (1869-1861)-An usurper, he lost Nippur to Sumuel of Larsa. He was now confined to just Isin. There was an old Mesopotamian ritual that if there was an exceptionally bad omen, a commoner was to be put on the throne and then killed the next day as a scapegoat instead of the real king. A commoner, Enlil-Bani, was put on the throne for that purpose. Irra-Imitti died that night after eating boiling broth and it was decided to leave the commoner on the throne.
Enlil-Bani (1861-1837)-An usurper, see above.
Zambija (1837-1834)
Iter-Pisha (1834-1831)
Urdukuga (1830-1828)
Sinmagir (1828-1817)-A vassal of Larsa?
Damiq-Ilishu (1817-1794)-A vassal of Larsa? He was conquered by Rim-Sin of Larsa.

Larsa (2025-1763):
Larsa was dedicated to the sun god Shamash/Utu.
1st Dynasty
Naplanum (2025-2005)-An Amorite sheikh, he captured Larsa and declared independence from Ur. He became a vassal of Isin.
Emisum (2005-1977)-A vassal of Isin.
Samium (1977-1942)-A vassal of Isin.
Zabaja (1942-1933)-A vassal of Isin.

Gungunum (1933-1906)-Brother of Zabaja. No concrete historical references have been found of his predecessors. The only inscription is of Zabaja, in which he is called a sheikh of the Amorites. In 1924 he gained Ur in a "friendly occupation". Ur was being threatened by the Amorites and Isin was unable to defend it, so they allowed Larsa to occupy Ur. This is the beginning of Larsa's domination. A short time later he conquered Lagash, Uruk and Elam (Susa). Gungunum also revived the sea trade with Dilmun and took the title of "King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad".
Abi-Sare (1906-1895)-He defeated and killed Ur-Ninurta of Isin in battle.
Sumuel (1895-1866)-He took Nippur from Isin in battle.
Nur-Adad (1866-1850)-He was an usurper and was called "one of the multitude", i.e. a commoner.
Sin-Iddinam (1850-1843)-Son of Nur-Adad.
Sin-Eribam (1843-1841)
Sin-Iqisham (1841-1836)
Silli-Adad (1836-1835)-He was killed in a battle with Babylon.
Warad-Sin (1835-1823)-An usurper, he was the son of Kudur-Mabuk, an Elamite (or an Amorite with an Elamite name) who controlled the Amorites between the Zagros and the Tigris. He acted like a Mesopotamian King instead of an occupying foreigner.
Rim-Sin (I) (1823-1763)-Brother of Warad-Sin. He had the longest authenticated reign in Mesopotamia. He defeated Babylon in battle in 1794, conquered Isin and ruled all of Sumer. In 1787 Hammurabi invaded and conquered Isin, but failed to take Uruk. That was the last war between them until the end, for in 1779 they signed a treaty and he may have regained Isin. He was the last Mesopotamian monarch to claim divinity. Rim-Sin was the last "Sumerian" ruler and his reign was the last flowering of Sumerian culture. He was conquered by his "ally" Hammurabi.

Eshnunna (2028-1763):
The tutelary deity was Tishpak, probably to be identified with the Hurrian Teshup. It was the first city to break away from Ur and was east of the Tigris.
Ituriya-Vassal of Ur.
Ilushu-Ilia (2028-c.2010)-He declared independence from Ur, replaced Sumerian with Akkadian and gave the months new local names. He quickly took the whole valley, including Tutub (Khafaje), as far as the Kirkuk region.
Nur-Ahum (c.2010-1990)
Kirikiri (c.1990-1975)
Bilalama (c.1975-1960)-He is the king credited with publishing the famous (law) Code of Eshnunna. Some scholars speculate that it was Dadusha that issued the code. His successors lost most of their territory.
Ishar-Ramashshu (c.1960-1945)
Azuzum (c.1945-1940)
Ur-Ninmar (c.1940-1935)
Ur-Ningizzida (c.1935-1930)
Ibiq-Adad I (c.1930-1910)
Sharria (c.1910-1900)
Belakum (c.1900-1880)
Warassa (c.1880-1875)
Ibal-Pi-El I (c.1875-1860)
Ibiq-Adad II (c.1860-1830)-He is called the "Enlarger of Eshnunna" because he began a new period of expansion.
Naram-Sin (c.1830-1805)-He conquered and controlled Assyria c.1830-1815. He also controlled the valley regions up to Mari.
Dadusha (c.1805-1780)
Ibal-Pi-El II (c.1780-1763)-Eshnunna was sacked but not occupied by a coalition of Babylon, Mari and Elam in the 1770's. Shortly after he was able to capture Ekallatum from Assyria (it had just been sacked by the Elamites). In 1763 he was conquered by Hammurapi.

Uruk (c.1870-1802):
6th Dynasty
Sin-Kashid (c.1870)-Probably gained independence from Isin.
Sin-Eribam (c.1850)
Sin-Gamil (c.1840)
Anam (c.1835)-Vassal of Larsa?
Irdanene (c.1830)-Vassal of Larsa?
Rim-Anum (c.1820)-Vassal of Larsa?
Nabi-Ilishu (-1802)-Conquered by Larsa.

Mari (c.1830-1759):
Mari was not a Mesopotamian city but at this time it became an important and powerful city.
Amorite Dynasty
Iaggid-Lim (c.1830-1820)
Iahdun-Lim (c.1820-1798)-He took the title of "King of Mari and the Country of the Hanaeans". The Hanaeans were a large Amorite tribe. He expanded his influence up to the Mediterranean, where he made sacrifices to the ocean and had his soldiers bathe in it. He later defeated Shamshi- Adad of Assyria and retook land from him. He was assassinated by his son Sumu-Iaman.
Sumu-Iaman (1798-1796)-He was assassinated by his servants. This allowed Shamshi-Adad of Assyria to take Mari with out a fight.
Iasmah-Adad (1796-1781)-The son of Shamshi-Adad of Assyria. He died in battle along with his father.
Zimri-Lim (1781-1759)-He was a relative of Iahdun-Lim who seized the throne upon the death of Iasmah-Adad and Shamshi-Adad. He took the overlordship of Syria from Ishme-Dagan of Assyria and signed a defensive alliance with Babylon c.1779. In the 1770's they sacked Eshnunna. In 1761 he was attacked by Hammurapi and made a vassal. Two years later he rebelled. Hammurapi returned and destroyed the city.