Ashur-rabi II

Ashur-rabi II (inscribed maš-šur-RA-bi, lit. "(the god) Ashur is great") was a king of Assyria who reigned during the Middle Assyrian Empire period from approximately 1012 to 972 BC. Despite his remarkably long reign of 41 years, one of the longest in Assyrian history, his tenure appears to have been difficult, and historical sources from the time are scarce.

During Ashur-rabi II's reign, Assyria faced significant territorial losses, particularly due to the increasing pressure and expansion of the Arameans. An inscription by a later king, Shalmaneser III, mentions that during Ashur-rabi II's time, the king of Aram took two Assyrian cities by force. The kingdom contracted to its ancient core territories around the major cities of Assur, Nineveh, Arbela, and Kilizi during this period of distress and potential famine. The circumstances of his succession, an uncle succeeding his nephew Ashur-nirari IV, suggest a period of possible internal instability.

Ashur-rabi II was the son of a previous king, Ashurnasirpal I. He was eventually succeeded by his son, the equally obscure Ashur-resh-ishi II, who ruled for a brief five years from 972 to 967 BC.