The Battle of Shishibar was fought between the armies of Babylon and Qingu in 1205 BC.
During the late 13th century BC, Babylonia and Assyria's other Mesopotamian possessions revolted against Tukulti-Ninurta I, but this resistance movement was far from unified. While Adad-shuma-usur became King of Babylon, other local rulers seized power in Sumer's other cities. At the same time, relentless Elamite raids pressed on the Babylonian borders, eyeing the kingdom and its riches with greed; they dreamed of their own empire. Assyrian influence added to Babylon's precarious situation, with the Assyrians having no intention of surrendering, and rather seeking to regain their lost lands. Beyond Assyria, the Hittite Empire also looked in Babylon's direction. Mighty Hittite kings long desired the wealth and treasures of the city, and they quietly prepared to launch a war campaign. Lastly, the Canaanite tribes south of Hatti were easily overlooked, but they threatened to wreak havoc across the lands of Sumer and Akkad should they reach the Euphrates.
In 1205 BC, Adad-shuma-usur was attacked by Balasi of Qingu, who reigned from Sur-Marrati (Samarra) and sought Babylon's riches for himself. Adad-shuma-usur led his army to intercept Iriba-Maruduk's Qingu army at Shishibar on the banks of the Euphrates, and, in the ensuing battle, he used his chariots to swing around the Qingu left flank and harry their skirmishers as his infantry dueled the Qingu army's Akkadian farmers. As the Qingu flanks collapsed, their army grew surrounded and was butchered.
Gallery[]
