, the brother of Aza, and this prince had
immediately concluded an alliance with Eusas, Mitatti, and the people of
Andia; his example was soon followed by other Eastern chiefs, Assurli of
Karallu and Itti of Allabria, whereupon, as the spirit of revolt spread
from one to another, most of the districts lately laid under tribute
by Tiglath-pileser took up arms--Niksama, Bitsagbati, Bitkhirmami,
Kilam-bafci, Armangu, and even the parts around Kharkhar, and Ellipi,
with its reigning sovereign Dalta. The general insurrection dreaded by
Sargon, and which Eusas had for five years been fomenting, had, despite
all the efforts of the Assyrian government, at last broken out, and
the whole frontier was ablaze from the borders of Elam to those of the
Mushku. Sargon turned his attention to where danger was most urgent; he
made a descent on the territory of the Mannai, and laid it waste "as
a swarm of locusts might have done;" he burnt their capital, Izirtu,
demolished the fortifications of Zibia and Armaid, and took Ullusunu
captive, but, instead of condemning him to death, he restored to him his
liberty and his crown on condition of his paying a regular tribute. This
act of clemency, in contrast with the pitiless severity shown at the
beginning of the insurrection, instantly produced the good effects he
expected: the Mannai laid down their arms and swore allegiance to the
conqueror, and their defection broke up the coalition. Sargon did not
give the revolted provinces time to recover from the dismay into which
his first victories had thrown them, but marched rapidly to the south,
and crushed them severally; commencing with Andia, where he took 4200
prisoners with their cattle, he next attacked Zikartu, whose king,
Mitatti, took refuge in the mountains and thus escaped death at the
hands of the executioner. Assurli of Karalla had a similar fate to
Bagadatti, and was flayed alive. Itti of Allabria, with half of his
subjects, was carried away to Hamath. The towns of Niksama and Shurgadia
were annexed to the province of Parsuash. The town of Kishisim was
reduced to ashes, and its king, Belsharuzur, together with the treasures
of his palace, was carried away to Nineveh. Kharkhar succumbed after a
short siege, received a new population, and was henceforward known as
Kar-Sharrukin; Dalta was restored to favour, and retained his dominion
intact. Never had so great a danger been so ably or so courageously
averted. It was not without good reaso