Ashur-dan II

Ashur-dan II (934 BCE – 912 BCE) was an ancient Assyrian king who is widely regarded by historians as the final ruler of the Middle Assyrian Empire and the first king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire period. He reigned for 23 years, from 934 BCE to 912 BCE, succeeding his father, Tiglath-Pileser II. Ashur-dan II focused his efforts on consolidating the shrinking Assyrian core territory and laying the groundwork for the future expansion that would characterize the Neo-Assyrian era.

His reign was marked by proactive internal and external policies. Militarily, he was the first king in over a century to lead regular military campaigns aimed at pushing back the Arameans and the mountain peoples who had encroached upon Assyrian lands. He successfully recaptured territory and restored Assyria to its natural borders, stabilizing the frontier from Tur Abdin (southeast Turkey) to the foothills beyond Arbela (Iraq). Economically, he introduced an extensive program of agricultural development, distributing ploughs throughout the land which led to record grain production, and he oversaw the building of government offices in all provinces.

Ashur-dan II's efforts at military and economic recovery revitalized the state and set a powerful precedent for his successors. His son, Adad-nirari II, who succeeded him upon his death in 912 BCE, built upon this strong foundation to begin the massive expansion that made Assyria the dominant power of the ancient Near East.