Following the fall of the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire emerged as a dominant force in the Near East.
Reign
609 – 539 BCE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Nebuchadnezzar II
Nebuchadnezzar II, succeeded his father Nabopolassar and inherited one of the most powerful empires in the world. To strengthen his reign and maintain alliances, he married Amytis, the daughter or granddaughter of the Median king, Cyaxares.
Under Nebuchadnezzar’s 43-year rule, the Babylonian Empire raged campaigns aimed to stabilizing regions previously controlled by the Assyrian Empire.
In 587 BCE, the Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem, and besieged Tyre for 13 years, eventually securing its surrender in 573 BCE.
Nebuchadnezzar left an indelible mark on Mesopotamia with monuments like the Ishtar Gate and the Ishter celebration festival in Babylon.
Political Turmoil
After Nebuchadnezzar II’s rule, the Neo-Babylonian Empire faced political turmoil. His son and successor, Amel-Marduk, reigned briefly before being assassinated in a coup by Neriglissar, an influential courtier married to one of Nebuchadnezzar’s daughters. Neriglissar’s reign was short, and he was succeeded by his son, Labashi-Marduk, who reigned for only nine months before his assassination.
The conspirators behind Labashi-Marduk’s death, courtier Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar, took power. Despite the challenges in their rise to power, the empire remained relatively calm during this period. Nabonidus, who originated from Harran, left Babylonia to campaign in the Levant and settled in Tayma for ten years. His son Belshazzar governed Babylonia in his absence.
Upon his return around 543 BCE, Nabonidus reorganized his court and made changes, including the removal of influential members.
Cyrus the Great
The fall of Babylon came in 539 BCE when Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenid king of Persia, invaded Babylon. The Babylonians, under Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar, were defeated at the Battle of Opis.
To enter Babylon, Cyrus diverted the Euphrates River, and the city fell without a battle. The Babylonian populace welcomed Cyrus. This marked the end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Persian Empire.
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