As part of a correspondence with the king's mother, Naʾid-Marduk reports that the Elamites have dismantled a bridge and that he fears another attack (no. 85). A son of Nikkal-iddin has probably written to the king of Elam and Huban-nikaš about the king of Assyria and a camp. Naʾid-Marduk declares his resistance to approaches by the king of Elam about their border and his loyalty to Assyria. Naʾid-Marduk, son of Merodach-Baladan Il, was appointed governor of the Sealand in 680 B.C. and held office until at least 673 B.C.[[52]] On Esarhaddon's mother Naqia, see no. 10. Nikkal-iddin was governor of Ur by 680 B.C., possibly until at least 673 B.C.[[53]] Huban-nikaš may have become Huban-nikaš II of Elam.[[54]] This letter may concern the conflict with Nabu-ušallim and Elam in 680-675 B.C. (see nos. 68, 86, 87, and 89).
The elders of the Sealand report to the king that, pressurised by Teumman, the king of Elam's brother, and Zineni to adopt Nabû-ušallim as their leader, they have defiantly declared their allegiance to his brother Naʾid-Marduk and Assyria (no. 86). Nabû-ušallim, now in control of a border zone by Elamite agency, threatens to destroy the Sealand unless the elders join him and belittles the king of Assyria. Teumman, later himself king of Elam, is attested as the brother of Huban-haltaš II who ruled 681-675 B.C.[[55]] On this Sealand power struggle, see no. 85. Naʾid-Marduk fled from Elam to Assyria after the Elamites executed his brother and predecessor Nabu-zer-kitti-lišir.[[56]] As the newly appointed governor, Naʾid-Marduk may still have been in Assyria during the Elamites' threats and initial invasion of the Sealand (see nos. 86, 87, and 89). His absence would have left the Sealand vulnerable and would have enabled the false report of his death. The people or elders of the Sealand report to the king that the Elamites have given Nabû-ušallim control of a frontier region of Naʾid-Marduk in retaliation for the Sealand's detention of messengers (no. 87). The king of Elam again demands that they accept Nabû-ušallim as their leader, claiming that Naʾid-Marduk is dead, the takeover inevitable, and the Sealanders Elamite subjects. The king of Elam sends back one of their frontier guards captured by Nabû-ušallim, repeating that the Sealand is subject to Elam. The authors ask for support against future Elamite attack and emphasise their loyalty to Assyria. On Naʾid-Marduk's absence resulting in the attempt to trick the Sealanders with a false report of his death, see no. 86. The people or elders of the Sealand write to the king about conflict involving Naʾid-Marduk and Qanâ, both named in no. 90 (no. 88). They hear of the king's anger with Naʾid-Marduk and defend him vigorously, proclaiming his innocence and loyalty to Assyria.
An author from the Sealand reports that the Sealand has been invaded, despite obeying the king's command to guard the outposts until the arrival of Naʾid-Marduk (no. 89). The author emphasises Naʾid-Marduk's loyalty to Assyria and warns that the invaders will usurp Assyrian authority. On the invasion by Nabû-ušallim and Elam, see no. 85. On Naʾid-Marduk's absence, see no. 86. An unknown author in no. 90 mentions Qanâ and Naʾid-Marduk, both also named in no. 88.
Assyrian allies in southern Babylonia report to the king that they directed a message to Nikkal-iddin, probably to reassure him of Esharhaddon's accession, but that the messenger diverted the message to Zer-kitti-lišir (no. 91). Probably due to this betrayal, Zer-kitti-lišir attacked the authors, interrogating them about their mnessage, and Nikkal-iddin wants to murder them. As Esarhaddon's inscriptions record, Nabû-zer-kitti-lišir, governor of the Sealand, besieged Ur under its governor Nikkal-iddin and was driven out by Esarhaddon in 680 B.C. (see nos. 82 and 85).
52 Naʾid-Marduk and his rival brother Nabû-ušallim occur in other letters (nos. 68, 86-90; SAA 10 2 r.5 (Assyrian ietter); ABL 839:15, cf. R. Mattila, SAAB 1 [1987] 28f). For discussion, see Waters, SAAS 12 37ff; Melville, SAAS 9 63-67; Porter Images 34f; Frame Babylonia 66, 88f, 99f, 277.
53 Nikkal-iddin occurs in Babylonian letters (nos. 69 and 91; ABL 920:11) and Assyrian letters (SAA 10 2 r.3, 354 r.14-18; ABL 445:6). He may have assumed office in 701-693 B.C., see Frame Babylonia 60f, 65f, 85, 98-101, 269, 278, 285.
54See Waters, SAAS 12 39.
55 On Teumman, see Waters, SAAS 12 49f; on Zineni, see Waters, SAAS 12 38.
56 See Porter Images 35; Frame Babylonia 66.
Frances Reynolds
Frances Reynolds, 'Letters from the Sealand', The Babylonian Correspondence of Esarhaddon and Letters to Assurbanipal and Sin-šarru-iškun from Northern and Central Babylonia, SAA 18. Original publication: Helsinki, Helsinki University Press, 2003; online contents: SAAo/SAA18 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2020 [http://oracc.org/saao/saa18/esarhaddoncorrespondence/fromthesealand/]