by H A CULLEY
Luckily the Eshnunnans had stuck to old practice of manning their chariots with nobles and young men from the families of wealthy merchants, rather than common archers. They were all armed with spears and, if they had had more sense, should have aimed at the camels – an easier target. The archers sitting on top of the hump were much more difficult to hit. Twenty minutes later ten archers, five camel boys and three camels lay dead or seriously wounded as they retreated, having disabled nearly every enemy chariot.
Now it was the foot archers turn. This time the infantry ranks didn’t close up as the camels rode back through them. The archers ran out in front of the infantry and started to pick off the charioteers, who were trying to cut the dead onagers out of their harnesses. Some were out of range and managed to recover the chariots, but most were killed or wounded. The Eshnunnan archers shot back but there were only a couple of hundred of them against a thousand Babylonian archers, all much better trained.
The sight of the slaughtered nobles, merchants and their sons - the pride of their city - who had rode forth in their chariots so proudly, had provoked the infantry, who now surged forward in a mass. Hammurabi’s archers were now joined by the slingers and more than a thousand of the enemy spearmen leading the charge were hit before the archers and slingers retreated through the Babylonian phalanxes, who closed the line of shields behind them.
The two blocks of infantry came together with a crash. However, the Eshnunnans weren’t in any sort of formation and, once the initial shock of their attack had been dissipated against the Babylonian shield wall, those at the front found themselves pressed against the shields of their enemies, unable to wield their spears. Having used their own spears to repel the initial wave, the Babylonians dropped them and pulled out their new bronze swords. Stabbing at faces over their shields and slashing at legs under them, they had soon eliminated nearly all of the men in the first few ranks of their opponents.
However, there were still perhaps seventeen thousand Eshnunnans left, all eager to get at half that number of Babylonians. Tarhunda’s infantry might be well trained and better equipped, but they were now hard pressed to hold their line, even with the ranks behind them pushing at their backs to help them stand firm. More and more of the front rank fell, but those behind them immediately stepped into their place. Then, suddenly, the pressure eased and the enemy melted away.
As the exhausted men stood there wondering what had happened, they saw the phalanxes from Sippar, Kish and Borsippa wading into the rear of the Eshnunnans. The enemy was trapped between the two Babylonian armies. The slaughter continued for a while, until it was obvious that the battle was over. Hammurabi gave the signal and the bronze signal horns blared forth. Slowly fighting ceased and Hammurabi rode forward in his chariot and called on the Eshnunnans to surrender.
The next day Tarhunda reported to him with the casualty figures. The Babylonians had lost four hundred and fifty dead and seven hundred wounded, about half of whom would be fit again for active service in a month or two. The Eshnunnans had lost their king, their army commander, most of their nobles and over four thousand dead. Another two thousand six hundred were wounded. Unfortunately, Zuuthusu was not amongst the casualties and several of the prisoners had said that he hadn’t joined the chariot charge. One or two thought that he had fled the field half way through the battle, though their attention was elsewhere and they couldn’t be sure. Another nine thousand soldiers had also managed to escape but some four thousand, in addition to the wounded, had been taken prisoner.
Most of the Babylonian leaders, including Tarhunda and Hunzuu, wanted Hammurabi to march on Eshnunna and capture it. He knew that, if he did so, he would risk provoking a war with Elam, and perhaps Mari as well and he wasn’t ready for that yet. He wished his mother was with him so that he could discuss the options with her, but she was far away in Babylon.
In the end he decided to march on Eshnunna, not to capture and pillage it, but to discuss terms for a lasting truce.
~#~
The city of Eshnunna lay on a tributary of the River Tigris in the lush valley of Diyala. It was surrounded by groves of olives and date palms in addition to the usual fields of wheat and grazing pastures for sheep and goats. As he approached the city, Hammurabi was struck by the size of the ziggurat on which the temple was built. The city was surrounded by walls twenty feet high, five feet higher than those around Babylon. Hammurabi knew that most of the wealth of Eshnunna came from its position on the trade route into Mesopotamia from Elam and countries further east.
The Babylonian army halted out of range of any archers that there might be on the city walls. The tops of the walls themselves were crowded with people, pushing and shoving to get a better view of the Babylonians who had defeated their army. Although they were too far away to hear, the king could see them pointing and discussing his troop of camels as well as the four thousand prisoners roped together, who were now prodded forward at spear point. Hammurabi could hear the wailing of the women faintly as they saw what had become of Eshnunna’s once proud army.
The new arrivals set up camp beside the river, making no attempt to surround the city. Eventually the massive main gates opened and three chariots appeared. These were the larger four wheeled variety pulled by four onagers. The two behind carried a charioteer and three armed men but the occupants of the lead chariot were a boy of about twelve and a grey bearded elder. To his surprise, Hammurabi noted that person driving the chariot was a girl of about sixteen.
The boy, who was dressed in rich robes with a tall hat decorated with gold and precious stones, and the more soberly dressed elder, dismounted and stood at the side of the chariot. Hammurabi mounted his own chariot and, accompanied by Tarhunda on his horse and Isiratuu in another chariot rode forward to within speaking distance. Ten archers on camels followed him as escort.
‘I’m Hammurabi, King of Babylon,’ he began, but before he could say anything more the girl chariot driver interrupted him.
‘Yes, we all know who my father’s murderer is. This is his son, Dadusha, King of Eshnunna now our father is dead.’ This was said with considerable venom.
So this must be Adiar, Hammurabi thought, looking at her properly for the first time. She was a striking beauty with long straight black hair and eyes of such an intense green that they seemed to bore right into his soul.
‘King Dadusha,’ Hammurabi tore his eyes away from the girl and acknowledged the boy king with a bow of his head. Then he returned to the girl.
‘Princess Adiar. I grieve for your loss but your father was the aggressor, attacking my city of Sippar without provocation, and he died in battle. His death was none of my doing or my desire.’
‘Lord king,’ the elder began, giving Adiar a reproving look. ‘Our army is slain, scattered or your captives. The city council would know what your terms for surrender are.’
‘You are all cowards,’ Adiar declared, giving the elder a scornful look. ‘The walls of Eshnunna are strong and Elam will surely come to our aid. We should hold out until then.’
‘Princess, my only desire is to end the enmity between your state and mine. I haven’t come here to demand your surrender, but to negotiate honourable terms for a truce.’
‘You say that but you still hold thousands of our poor soldiers in bondage.’
‘What will convince you of my good intentions towards you? Shall I free these men now and let them return to their families?’
‘You are trying to trick us!’ Adiar was incredulous.
‘Not at all, princess. Furthermore I shall release your wounded once they are fit enough to travel. For the moment they are being cared for with our own casualties at Sippar.’ Hammurabi gave a signal and immediately men started to cut the prisoners’ bonds with their daggers. As the released men began to make their way towards the city a great cheer went up from the walls. Adiar’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but she didn’t say anymore.
‘King Dadusha, I’m offering you the chance to rebuild your army and for us
to become allies. I have no quarrel with Elam or Eshnunna, except that you are harbouring the man who murdered his father and mine. I am perfectly ready to forgive your people but I can never forgive Zuuthusu.’
The boy king looked at the elder who nodded. ‘King Hammurabi, I recognise you as the true King of Babylon and I thank you for your generous gesture of goodwill in releasing your captives. The elders and I are willing to discuss terms for a lasting peace with you. Alas, we cannot hand Zuuthusu over to you for trial as he has fled into Elam, taking our elder sister with him.’
Hammurabi had some difficulty in getting his war council to accept the terms he proposed to offer Dadusha. They, and the rest of the army, had been opposed to releasing their captives. They would have fetched a lot of money if they had been sold as slaves. However, they had been somewhat mollified by the king’s assurance that he would demand that Eshnunna pay a sizeable tribute, and that each soldier would receive some of it personally. It was only when he got them to accept that continuing hostility with Eshnunna would bring Elam in on the enemy’s side that most agreed to the proposed terms.
Although Hammurabi was king, he needed to rule with the support of his people, or at least the senior representatives of those people. His claim to the throne was not as strong as his father’s had been and people accepted him as their ruler because he led them well. Initially, his plans for training the army had been unpopular. It was only when he had convinced the city councils as to the sense of his proposals that he could put them into effect.
Now he sat in his tent, pitched halfway between his camp and the city, waiting for the delegation from Eshnunna to arrive. Behind him stood the chief elders of Babylon, Kish, Sippar and Borsippa, plus Sin-Bel-Alim, Mannui-Qipi, the high priest, Tarhunda and Isiratuu. Ibbi-Addad had been left behind, ostensibly to govern the kingdom in Hammurabi’s absence, but, in reality, because the king didn’t trust him. From what he had found out from one of the captives before he had released him with the others, he had good reason to suspect his loyalty.
The other delegation consisted of Dadusha, two of the nobles who had been captives until yesterday, and several of the city elders. When Hammurabi saw Adiar enter the tent with them he experienced conflicting emotions. He was affronted by the presence of a woman at these negotiations, but he was also secretly delighted at seeing her again.
Several of his own people muttered angrily in Hammurabi’s ear when they saw Adiar but the last thing the king wanted was a row before the discussions had even started, so he decided to compromise.
‘Princess Adiar, we are delighted to see you again. However, it is unusual for a woman to take part in these talks. I wonder, therefore, whether you could whisper any contribution you may have to your brother and he can convey them to us?’
Adiar stiffened and was about to reply when she thought better of whatever it was and nodded her head. She came and sat beside her brother, the rest of the delegation remained standing.
‘In essence, King Dadusha, I am proposing that we sign an agreement not to wage war on each other again. Furthermore, if either of us is attacked, the other will send an army at least five thousand strong to support the one being attacked. In addition, I suggest that we enter into a trade agreement whereby goods traded between us shall be free of taxes.’ He knew that this would be popular with the merchants from both kingdoms, if not with the two royal treasurers.
‘There remains the question of recompense for your father’s support for the patricide Zuuthusu and the attack on Sippar. To make good the injury done us I ask that Zuuthusu be exiled from Eshnunna and, should he return here, he should be arrested and handed over to Babylon for justice. Finally, Eshnunna is to pay five thousand talents to Babylon. For a further one thousand talents, I will return all your captured weapons and chariots to you, but the choice on this last matter is yours.’
Whilst Hammurabi was speaking he kept glancing from Dadusha, to whom he was speaking, to his sister sitting beside him. At first the girl ignored his glances but then she looked at the carpet to avoid his eyes. He thought she was being demure, though this seemed out of character, but then he thought he saw a smile twitching the corners of her lips.
When he finished there was silence; then Adiar got to her feet, pulling her brother up with her. She nudged Dadusha and he jumped.
‘Oh. Yes. We will withdraw to the other tent to consider what you have said, King Hammurabi.’ He bowed and the other members of his delegation followed him across to a second tent which had been pitched for their use.
An hour later the delegation returned.
‘We are prepared to accept your offer of peace,’ Dadusha began, ‘but we would like you to include the weapons and chariots for the price of five thousand talents. We would also like to bind our two lands together through marriage.’
Hammurabi was pleased with the counter-offer of five thousand talents; he would have settled for four thousand. Then when marriage between their two royal houses was mentioned his heart leapt. He didn’t know Adiar but, from what he had seen, she promised to be the sort of spirited girl who he could share his plans and ambitions with. She was also very attractive; so much so that he got aroused every time he looked at her. However, Dadusha’s next words brought him crashing back to earth.
‘You have a sister who is my age I believe?’
‘What? Oh, er, yes.’ At first Hammurabi didn’t grasp the import of what the King of Eshnunna was suggesting.
‘Our king is suggesting a marriage between himself and your elder sister.’ The chief elder explained. Hammurabi gave the man a sour look, suspecting that it was his idea. It would be churlish to refuse such an offer. It would offend the Eshnunnans and undo all the good that the peace talks had achieved. But if he agreed any prospect of his own union with Adiar would disappear. Politically it wouldn’t be sensible to cement the alliance with two marriages. His advisors would want him to marry elsewhere and forge a new alliance. He had to act quickly and he decided to risk all for what he desired.
‘I am honoured by your offer for the hand of my sister, lord king,’ he told Dadusha. ‘But I have an even better idea. May I discuss it with you in private?’
The young king looked at his advisors uncertainly.
‘Leave us,’ Adiar told them impatiently. ‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t agree to anything foolish.’
Unwillingly the delegation walked back to the other tent and the two siblings looked at Hammurabi expectantly. He groaned to himself. He had wanted to discuss the idea with Dadusha on his own first. Adiar’s presence made what he was about to say difficult.
‘I am very happy with your offer for my sister,’ he shifted uncomfortably. ‘But my advisors are continually insisting that I need to marry myself.’ He could have kicked himself. Now it would look as if he only wanted to marry Adiar to stop people from nagging him. Oh well.
‘Up to now I have resisted the idea because everyone who was suggested seemed to me to be empty-headed and would merely be a breeding machine. That was the last thing I wanted.’ He darted a look at Adiar. Was that a look of approval he saw on her face?
‘I want someone I can share my ideas with; who can advise me; who can share my life, my dreams, my problems, my concerns, my doubts. Until yesterday I didn’t think that such a woman existed but then I met Adiar.’
He stopped speaking and looked the girl in the eye. He could see various emotions playing across her face.
‘I, I don’t know.’ Dadusha stuttered.
‘It’s all right, brother. I can speak for myself.’ She put a hand on his arm. ‘To be honest I have never thought about marriage, especially to the man who caused my father’s death and Eshnunna’s shame. Besides, I am needed here now to advise my brother until he is old enough to rule without my help. If I leave him now the elders and the nobles will squabble over who rules in his name and Eshnunna will suffer.’ She sighed.
‘But I am moved by your words and, if I have to marry, I would want to be the wife of a man like yo
u, to help you and rule with you, not just be your plaything in bed and the brood mare for your children, which is all that is expected of most women. You have presented me with a difficult choice.’
Hammurabi was elated and dejected at the same time. He tried to put his emotions to one side and concentrate on the problem.
‘Who would be the best person to advise Dadusha if you were not here?’
She thought for a moment. ‘Laqip I suspect. He is one of the nobles. He is sensible, honest and has few enemies. The trouble is his youth; he is only in his twenties and so would have trouble earning the respect of the elders.’
‘Then make him the commander of what is left of your armies. That will give him the ear of the king and the power to keep the others in line. I would have no objection to you making occasional visits to Eshnunna to check on things. In fact, it would be helpful to make sure that no difficulties were brewing between our kingdoms.’ He felt Adiar stiffen. ‘I don’t expect Elam to be overly happy with developments and there is still the problem of Zuuthusu to deal with,’ he explained.
Chapter Five – A New Alliance – 1789 BCE
Shamshi-Adad, King of Assyria, studied his two sons, Ishme-Dagan and Yasmah-Addu, and wondered why neither were cast in his image, at least as far as character was concerned. Ishme-Dagan was the elder, who he had recently made King of Ekallatum. This was a city state between Assur, the Assyrian capital, and Eshnunna. After some deliberation, he had called them together for a war council following the treaty between Eshnunna and Hammurabi.
After Shamshi-Adad had come to the throne of Assur he had expanded his lands to include Ekallatum and several other cities in the north of Mesopotamia. Although the area he now ruled over was vast, it was largely barren away from the Tigris and its tributaries, sparsely populated and it was surrounded by powerful kingdoms. These included that of the Hittites in the north, Mari in the west, the Syrian kingdom of Yamhad centred on Aleppo to the north west and Eshnunna to the south. To the east lay the Zagros Mountains with its pastoral valleys inhabited by various nomadic tribes. The two largest of these, the Turukkum and the Kassites, often raided into Assyria.