Urartu is first mentioned by Shalmaneser-I (r.c.1263-c.1234 BC) as one of the states of Nairi – a loose federation of small kingdoms in the western Armenian highlands (eastern Anatolia). Urartu itself was in the region around Lake Van. Shalmaneser claimed to have crushed a rebellion in Urartu, ‘conquering its eight lands and fifty-one cities in three days’. A similar expedition described by Tiglath-pileser-I (r.c.1115-c.1076 BC), who claims to have subdued ‘sixty kings in the land of Nairi’. Later, in the first half of the ninth century BC, it becomes clear that out of the earlier tribal groupings, a single formidable state had begun to materialise and from texts from the time of Ashurnasirpal II (r.884-859 BC), it is already being referred to as Urartu.
The first known Urartian king Aramu (r.858-844 BC) was attacked by Shalmaneser III (r.859-824 BC), who captured the Aramu’s royal cities, Sugunia and Arzashkun. Under Sarduri-I (r.834-828 BC) the capital was moved to Tushpa (=Van), where it remained. Expansion began under Ishpuini (r.828-810 BC) and Menua (r.810-785 BC), who took over the lands between Van and Urmia and gained control of the kingdom of Musasir to the southwest of Urmia. Under Argishti-I (r.785-753 BC) the Urartians pushed further north. Sarduri II (r.753-735 BC) pushed into northern Syria, but Tiglath-pileser III (r.745-727 BC) drove him back. In 714 BC Sargon II (r.722-705 BC) launched an attack against Rusa-I (r.735-714 BC) and defeated the Urartian army. Very soon afterwards, Cimmerian hordes passed across Urartu causing further disruption.
These two blows were not fatal to Urartu. Argishti II (r.714-680 BC) kept the Assyrians at bay and built a number of new fortresses. Rusa II (r.680-639 BC) built a new capital, Rusahinili, to replace Erebuni, founded by Argishti-I. During this time the Cimmerians settled in the region of Lake Van, seemingly as allies of Rusa II, for Esarhaddon (r.680-669 BC), expressed his fear of a Urarto-Cimmerian alliance. A Urartian king, apparently Sarduri III (r.639-635 BC), is recorded by the Assyrians as having sent a delegation to Ashurbanipal (r.668-631 BC) as humbly acknowledging him as overlord. Yet in 609 BC, three years after the destruction of Nineveh, Urartu was still in existence.
Armenians had been infiltrating Urartu since the twelfth century BC. Erimena (r.635-629 BC) may have established an Armenian royal dynasty. Rusa III (r.629-615 BC) is associated with Toprak Kale, built by Rusa II. Little is known about the reign of Sarduri IV (r.615-595 BC) except that his kingdom was probably being attacked in the north by Scythians and in the south by the Medes. Following the death of Rusa IV (r.595-585 BC), Urartu was annexed by the Medes.
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