This page lists the kings of Urartu (Ararat or Kingdom of Van), an Iron Age kingdom centered on Lake Van in eastern Asia Minor.
Early kings
- Arame 858 BC–844 BC
- Lutipri 844 BC–834 BC
Rise to power
- Sarduri I (also Sarduris I, Sedur I, Asiduri I) 834 BC–828 BC; known in Assyrian sources as Ishtarduri, moved the capital to Tushpa, expanded the fortress of Van, possibly established new dynasty.
- Ishpuini (also Ishpuinis, Ispuini) the Establisher 828 BC–810 BC; expanded the empire and conquered Mushashir.
- Menua (also Menuas, Minua) the Conqueror 810 BC–785 BC; initially ruled jointly with his father Ishpuini and later jointly ruled with his son, Inushpua, greatly expanded the kingdom, organized the centralized administrative structure, fortified a number of cities and founded fortresses, developed a national canal and irrigation system.
- Argishti I (also Argishtis I, Argishtish I, Argisti I) 785–763 BC; fortified the empire's frontier, founded Erebuni (modern-day Yerevan).
- Sarduri II 763 BC–735 BC; maximum expansion; zenith of Urartian power.
- Rusa I (also Rusas, Ursa) 735 BC–714 BC; Assyrian and Cimmerian attacks.
- Melartua (714) briefly served as king after his father's defeat, subsequently killed by Urartian nobles
- Argishti II 714–680 BC
- Rusa II (known to Assyrian king as Yaya) 680 BC–639 BC
- Sarduri III 639 BC–635 BC
Decline
- Erimena 635–629 BC
- Rusa III 629 BC–590 BC or 629 BC–615 BC
Defeat and destruction
The Orontid Dynasty begins with King Orontes I Sakavakyats (570 BC–560 BC), after the last king of Urartu.
See also
- List of Mesopotamian dynasties
References
- Boris Piotrovskii, The Ancient Civilization of Urartu, London, 1969.
- Igor Diakonoff, The Pre-History of the Armenian People, Caravan Books, New York, 1988.
- M. Chahin, The Kingdom of Armenia, Curzon, London, 2001.