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How did Ashurbanipal limit Shamash-shum-ukin’s power in Babylonia?

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Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal — Ashurbanipal Ashurbanipal depicted in a lion hunt in an Assyrian relief from his northern palace in Nineveh; now in the British Museum.

Ashurbanipal limited the power of his half-brother, Shamash-shum-ukin, by maintaining strict control over Babylonia even after appointing him as its local ruler. Although Shamash-shum-ukin held the title of king in Babylon, his authority was significantly restricted in the following ways:

Direct Oversight: Assyrian garrisons and officials stationed in Babylonia continued to report directly to Ashurbanipal rather than to his brother.1
Administrative Control: Ashurbanipal retained the authority to appoint governors in key areas, such as the Sealand (Persian Gulf) and the city of Ur.1
Direct Communication: The Assyrian king allowed Babylonian subjects to petition him directly and granted them land, bypassing the local administration of Shamash-shum-ukin.1

These measures ensured that while Shamash-shum-ukin served as a local figurehead, the true political and military power remained firmly in the hands of the Assyrian king.1