Samsuiluna

king of Babylonia

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July 13, 2026

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Samsuiluna was the son and successor of Hammurabi, ruling Babylonia from approximately 1749 to 1712 BCE. His reign saw a significant reduction in the size of the Babylonian empire. Rebellions erupted in the south, leading to the leveling of the walls of Ur, Uruk, and Larsa, cities that regained their autonomy for a period.12

Samsuiluna also faced external threats, notably from the Kassites, whom he first encountered around 1741 BCE. He constructed a stronghold, "Fort Samsuiluna," to defend against them. The Kassites eventually gained control of Babylonia after a Hittite invasion in 1595 BCE.1

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ancient Iran
The Old Elamite period
Kutir-Nahhunte I attacked Samsuiluna (c. 1749–c. 1712 bce), Hammurabi’s son, and dealt so serious a defeat to the Babylonians that the event was remembered more than 1,000 years later in an inscription of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. It may be assumed that with this stroke Elam once again…
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Kutir-Nahhunte I attacked Samsuiluna (c. 1749–c. 1712 bce), Hammurabi’s son, and dealt so serious a defeat to the Babylonians that the event was remembered more than 1,000 years later in an inscription of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. It may be assumed that with this stroke Elam once again…
Read More

history of Mesopotamia
Political fortunes
Under Hammurabi’s son Samsuiluna (c. 1749–c. 1712 bce) the Babylonian empire greatly shrank in size. Following what had almost become a tradition, the south rose up in revolt. Larsa regained its autonomy for some time, and the walls of Ur, Uruk, and Larsa were leveled. Eshnunna, which evidently…
Read More
Under Hammurabi’s son Samsuiluna (c. 1749–c. 1712 bce) the Babylonian empire greatly shrank in size. Following what had almost become a tradition, the south rose up in revolt. Larsa regained its autonomy for some time, and the walls of Ur, Uruk, and Larsa were leveled. Eshnunna, which evidently…
Read More

Hammurabi
…his firstborn son and successor, Samsuiluna, are known by name.
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…his firstborn son and successor, Samsuiluna, are known by name.
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