Urtak (king of Elam)

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Urtak or Urtaku was a king of the ancient kingdom of Elam,[1] which was to the southeast of ancient Babylonia. He ruled from 675 to 664 BCE, his reign overlapping those of the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon (681-669) and Ashurbanipal (668-627).[2]

Urtak was preceded by his brother, Khumban-Khaldash II.[3] Khumban-Khaldash made a successful raid against Assyria, and died a short time thereafter.[3] He was succeeded by Urtak, who returned to Assyria the idols his elder brother had taken in the raid, and who thereby repaired relations between Elam and Assyria.[3]

He made an alliance with Assyria's Esarhaddon in 674,[4] and for a time Elam and Assyria enjoyed friendly relations,[5] which lasted throughout the remainder of Esarhaddon's reign, and deteriorated after Esarhaddon was succeeded by Ashurbanipal.[6]

During a famine in Elam, Ashurbanipal welcomed temporary refugees from Elam into his empire, and sent food aid to Elam itself.[7] However, after a time Urtak, joining his forces with the Gambulu tribe of Arameans,[8] attacked Babylonia around 665 BCE, and died shortly afterward.[9] Urtak was succeeded by his brother Teumman, who was killed by Ashurbanipal shortly afterward.[8]

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