Background
Tiglath Pileser (TP) we meet him during his coronation in 1120BC (3141 years ago) he is 22 years old. He is being coronated in Caleh as the new Assyrian king. His father Asshur Risk Ishi (ARI) won back Caleh from the Babylonians and restored Assyria onto the map as an independent state. ARI had been regarded as “the powerful king, the conqueror of hostile lands, the subduer of evil”, whereas TP was coronated as “monarch of Assyria”. TP wanted to be greater than his father, he was driven by the need to be more successful than his father.
TP has been educated in Egypt and the Assyrian people regard him as a foreigner. It is well known the ARI paid a handsome price for the education and safe passage of his eldest son. TP had spent 13 years in Egypt and arrived in Asshur (a city on the border of Egypt and Assyria) in a chariot pulled by two white horses each horse with a blue stone on their reins. It was said that Egypt sent this gift as an indication that TP and ARI were now vessels of Egypt. ARI had been the peoples spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher. TP has a lot to live up to.
ARI is breaking with tradition, this is the first time in generations that rule has followed a family blood line. For the last 8 rulers, the next king was always chosen from the available nobility, and chosen based on ability. ARI has broken the unwritten rule, and had appointed his son as “king in waiting”.
How we meet TP
TP is being shown into the Temple of Ishar in Caleh. The temple has been decorated, a sea of green silk. TP is angry, green is his fathers’ colour. His coronation is in the temple his father had liberated, in a city his father rebuilt and with people who fear TPs eyes. TP has one brown eye and one blue, the eyes are a window to the soul. The Assyrian people do not trust a soul with two sides.
TP is wearing his fathers sword, which looks oversized against the young slim regent. TP walks ungainly through the crowd to the “Sacred Seat”. A seat TP has had made and which has been blessed by Assyrian priests. TP hopes this seat is seen as a sign from the gods. Assyrians have never elevated a King to the celestial heights of a God, does TP need to be a god to be worthy.
Whist TP walks, he looks around at the faces, it is clear the kingdoms of Kishshati and Asshur are well represented, however, no representation has been forthcoming from Sumerand. The room is a whisper, Sumerand has mutinied, they refuse to accept this “Egyptian puppet”. TP has lost power before he has taken the crown. TP counts the friendly expressions on one hand, will he live to see the dawn, will his guards remain loyal?
TP approaches the “Sacred Seat”, he has memorised the complex ceremony, his trusted advisor (a Egyption) Tukul is standing by the seat and bows low to TP. TP seats himself on the Sacred Seat, a oversized ornate stone seat with carvings of Samash the Sun god covered in gold, Sin the Moon god covered in Silver and Bel the Mars god covered in Bronze looking down on the seat.
The priest descend on TP, and the coronation begins. TP recites ancient script, his Egyptian accent is audible to all. Do the dignitaries in the temple hear an Egyptian or the son of ASR?
Two long hours of ceremony, TP is given the blessings of the priests and the room bows to their new king. TP looks around the room, able to see the walls and is able to see the rainbow of colours of tribes and lands his father ruled. The sky blue of Kishshati, the burnt orange of Asshur, but no sun yellow of Sumerand. TP grows angry, ASR has already overshadowed him.
TP holds his nerve, raises his voice and announces that the Assyrian people will rule Babylon, the gods had told him. All in the room know, to rule Babylon, TP needs to pass and rule Sumerand. In that short speech, war is declared.
TP’s Journey
When TP was 5, ASR sent him away to Egypt, a foreign land, no family and was cared for by Tukul’s Father, Ahmose. Tukul was 12. Ahmose was the viceroy and the Pharaohs closest advisor in the west of Egypt. Ahmose had negotiated TPs safe conduct. Ahmose treated TP as a son and Tukul and TP educated together, learning astronomy, philosophy, hunting, medicine, languages. Tukul was the older brother TP needed. Ahmose’s standing and therefore wealth within Egypt increased, Tukul and TP benefited from the finest of lives, some said, it was better than the Pharaohs.
At 18, TP returned to Assyria on his own. ASR taught TP about Assyrian culture, politics and language. However it was clear to ASR, that TP was not able to be the son he wanted, TP was weak, mentally and physically. ASR sent for Tukul to help TP. Tukul was able to school TP and ASR felt that together, these two could rule Assyria.
ASR, TP, Tukul and a vast army attacked Babylonian held Caleh. TP and Tukul were able to use their Egyptian warfare knowledge to surprise the Babylonians and Caleh was captured and the city was restored to Assyrian rule. Assyria saw this victory as another ASR victory, ASR was keen to take the accolade. ASR used this victory to announce that TP would be his successor.
Soon after, on a hunting trip ASR died, an accident or assassination? Did TP murder his father? Or was Assyrian nobility, unhappy with the successor?
TP has ambition, he has Egypt who will not attack as long as Ahmose is Vicroy. Initially TP intends to rule Assyria and Babylon within his lifetime. But, he finds out that he will still be in his fathers shadow, Assyrians love ASR. To ensure TP’s name is remembered, TP later decides to create a bloodline dynasty and promote himself to a god. Tukul is key, without his support TP has two wars and no friends. How can Tukul be the big brother to a God?