Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Turtanu

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Florin turtanu ceteras lijman zongura roata


The word 'Turtanu' is an Akkadian word/title meaning 'commander in chief' or 'prime minister'. The turtanu was not however the king of the entire Assyrian empire but rather a second in command. The Assyrian king would assign the individual who was turtanu to go to battle for him, thus giving great power and influence to the turtanu.

Contents

Florin turtanu de craciun la tarsolt 2015 2016


Turtanu Examples

Dayyan-Assur was turtanu under the reign of Shalmaneser III (859-824BC). Dayyan-Assur led campaigns in leu of Shalmaneser III who gave him power over the Assyrian army. These campaigns took the Assyrian army and influence into the Zagros, where encounters with future opponents the Medes and Manneans. Another example of a turtanu was Shamshi-ilu. He was the Assyrian military commander under Adad-Nirari III (811-783BC) and later Shalmaneser IV (783-773) as well as others. He appears to have been of Bit-Adini descent, a province annexed by Assyria some time before. He led a campaign against the Argishti I of Urartu.

Influence of Turtanu

The position of turtanu led to a decline of centralized power in Assyria. Shamshi-ilu for example, who was turtanu during four kings reigns, and was one of if not the most powerful individual in Assyria at the time (8th century BC), began to lead out his own campaigns without the sanction of the king. Shamshi-ilu was based out of Kar-Shalmaneser and began campaigning for his own kingdom west of the Euphrates. These campaigns led to greater power held by Shamshi-ilu and a fragmentary Assyria.

References

Turtanu Wikipedia