Tiglath-pileser I 01

(i 1) God Aššur, great lord, who properly administers all the gods, grantor of scepter and crown, sustainer of sovereignty; god Enlil, lord, king of all the Anunnakū gods, father of the gods, lord of the lands; (i 5) god Sîn, wise one, lord of the lunar disk, lofty divine crescent; god Šamaš, judge of heaven (and) underworld, who espies the enemy's treachery, who exposes the wicked; god Adad, hero, who storms over hostile regions, (i 10) mountains, (and) seas; god Ninurta, valiant one, slayer of criminal and foe, fulfiller of hearts' desires; goddess Ištar, foremost among the gods, mistress of tumult, who adorns battles;

(i 15) Great gods, managers of heaven (and) underworld, whose attack means conflict and strife, who make great the sovereignty of Tiglath-pileser, beloved prince, your select one, attentive shepherd, (i 20) whom you chose in the steadfastness of your hearts; upon him you set the exalted crown, you grandly established him for sovereignty over the land of the god Enlil, to him you granted leadership, supremacy, (and) valor, you pronounced forever his destiny of dominion (i 25) as powerful and (the destiny) of his priestly progeny for service in Eḫursagkurkurra;

(i 28) Tiglath-pileser, strong king, unrivalled king of the universe, king of the four quarters, (i 30) king of all princes, lord of lords, chief herdsman, king of kings, attentive purification priest, to whom by command of the god Šamaš the holy scepter was given and who had complete authority over the people, subjects of the god Enlil, faithful shepherd, whose name (i 35) was called over the princes, exalted bishop, whose weapons the god Aššur has sharpened and whose name he has pronounced eternally for control of the four quarters, capturer of distant districts to borders (i 40) above and below, radiant day whose brilliance overwhelms the regions, splendid flame which covers the hostile land like a rain storm and, by the command of the god Enlil, having no rival defeats the enemy of the god Aššur;

(i 46) The god Aššur (and) the great gods who magnify my sovereignty, who granted as my lot power and strength, commanded me to extend the border of their land. They placed in my hands their (i 50) mighty weapons, deluge in battle. I gained control over lands, mountains, towns, and princes who were hostile to Aššur and I subdued their districts. (i 55) I vied with 60 crowned heads and achieved victory over them in battle. I have neither rival in strife nor equal in conflict. I added territory to Assyria (and) people to its population. I extended the border of my land and ruled over all their lands.

(i 62) In my accession year: 20,000 Mušku with their five kings, who had held for 50 years the lands Alzu (i 65) and Purulumzu — bearers of tribute and tithe to the god Aššur, my lord — (the Mušku), whom no king had ever repelled in battle, being confident of their strength they came down (and) (i 70) captured the land Katmuḫu. With the support of the god Aššur, my lord, I put my chariotry and army in readiness (and), not waiting for my rear guard, I traversed the rough terrain of Mount Kašiiari. I fought with their 20,000 men-at-arms (i 75) and five kings in the land Katmuḫu. I brought about their defeat. Like a storm demon I piled up the corpses of their warriors on the battlefield (and) made their blood flow into the hollows (i 80) and plains of the mountains. I cut off their heads (and) stacked them like grain piles around their cities. I brought out their booty, property, (and) possessions without number. I took (i 85) the remaining 6,000 of their troops who had fled from my weapons (and) submitted to me and regarded them as people of my land.

(i 89) At that time I marched to the insubmissive land Katmuḫu which had withheld tribute and impost from the god Aššur, my lord. I conquered the entire land of Katmuḫu. I brought out their booty, property, (and) possessions. Their cities (ii 1) I burnt, razed, (and) destroyed. The remainder of the (inhabitants of the) land Katmuḫu, who had fled from my weapons (and) (ii 5) crossed over to the city Šereššu which is on the opposite bank of the Tigris, made that city their stronghold. Taking my chariots and warriors I hacked through the rough mountain range and difficult paths with copper picks and made a good way for the passage of (ii 10) my chariots and troops. I crossed the Tigris (and) conquered their fortified city, Šereššu. I spread out like grain heaps (the corpses of) their men-at-arms in the battle. I made (ii 15) their blood flow in the hollows and plains of the mountains. At that time I laid low like sheep, with the army of (ii 20) the land Katmuḫu, the army of the Papḫû which had come to the aid and assistance of the land Katmuḫu. I built up mounds with the corpses of their men-at-arms on mountain ledges. I allowed the River Nāme to carry the bodies of their warriors out to the Tigris. I captured in battle their king, (ii 25) Kili-Teshub, son of Kali-Teshub, who is called Errupi. I carried off his wives, his natural sons, his clan, 180 (ii 30) copper kettles, five bronze bath-tubs, together with their gods, gold and silver, the best of their property. I brought out their booty. I burnt, razed, (and) destroyed that city and its palace.

(ii 36) With regard to the city Urraṭinaš, their stronghold situated in the land Panaru, the terror, fear, (and) splendor of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed them. To save (ii 40) their lives they took their gods (and) possessions and flew like birds to ledges on high mountains. Taking my chariotry and army I crossed the Tigris. Šadi-Tešub, son of Ḫattuḫu, king (ii 45) of the city Urraṭinaš, submitted to me in his own land. I took his natural sons and his family as hostages. He brought to me as tribute and tax 60 copper kettles, bronze vats, (ii 50) and large bronze bath-tubs, together with 120 men, cattle, and sheep. I accepted his (tribute), spared him (and) preserved his life. (ii 55) I imposed upon him forever the heavy yoke of my dominion. I completely conquered the extensive land Katmuḫu and subdued it.

(ii 58) At that time I donated to the god Aššur one bronze vat (and) one bronze bath-tub from the booty and tribute of the land Katmuḫu. I gave to the god Adad, who loves me, 60 copper kettles together with their gods.

(ii 63) With the onslaught of my fierce weapons by means of which the god Aššur, the lord, gave me strength and excellence I took my warriors trained for successful combat (ii 65) with thirty of my chariots escorting my aggressive shock troops. I marched to the land Išdiš (where) rebellious (and) insubmissive people (lived). (ii 70) Riding in my chariot when the way was smooth and going by foot when the way was rough, I passed through the rough terrain of mighty mountains. In Mount Aruma, a difficult area which was impassable for my chariots, I abandoned my chariotry. (ii 75) Taking the lead of my warriors I slithered victoriously with the aggressiveness of a viper over the perilous mountain ledges. I destroyed the land Išdiš (so that it looked) like ruin hills (created by) the deluge. Their warriors (ii 80) I laid low in battle like sheep. I carried off their booty, possessions, and property. I burned all their cities. I imposed upon them (the obligation to provide) hostages, tribute, and taxes.

(ii 85) Tiglath-pileser, valiant man, opener of remote regions in the mountains, subduer of the insubmissive, overwhelmer of all fierce (enemies):

(ii 89) I conquered the rebellious and insubmissive Šubaru. I imposed the heavy yoke of my dominion upon the lands Alzu and Purulumzu which had abandoned (the practice of paying) tribute and tax so that annually they send tribute and tax (ii 95) into my presence at my city Aššur. As soon as with my valor, by means of which the god Aššur, my lord, had placed in my hand the strong weapon which subdues the insubmissive, (ii 100) he commanded me to extend the border of his land, 4,000 Kasku (and) Urumu, insubmissive troops of Ḫatti — who had seized by force (iii 1) the cities of the land Šubartu which were vassals of the god Aššur, my lord — heard of my coming to the land Šubartu. The splendor of my valor overwhelmed them and, fearing battle, they submitted to me. I took them, together with their property and 120 chariots (and) harnessed horses, and regarded them as people of my land.

(iii 7) With my valorous onslaught I marched a second time to the land Katmuḫu. I conquered all their cities (and) (iii 10) carried off their booty, possessions, (and) property without number. I burnt, razed, (and) destroyed their cities. The remainder of their troops, which had taken fright at my fierce weapons and (iii 15) had been cowered by my strong and belligerent attack, took to secure heights in rough mountainous terrain in order to save their lives. I climbed up after them to the peaks of high mountains and perilous mountain ledges (iii 20) where a man could not walk. They waged war, combat, and battle with me (and) I brought about their defeat. (iii 25) Like a storm demon I piled up the corpses of their warriors on mountain ledges (and) made their blood flow into the hollows and plains of the mountains. I brought down their booty, possessions, (and) property from the heights of the mighty mountains. (Thus) I became lord of the entire land of Katmuḫu and added (it) to the borders of my land.

(iii 32) Tiglath-pileser, strong king, snare for the insubmissive, overwhelmer in battle with criminals: