n this subject have been adopted by most historians.

Here again the native kingdom disappeared, and was replaced by an
Assyrian administration. Kammanu, wedged in between Urartu and Mushki,
separated these two countries, sometimes rivals to each other, but
always enemies to Nineveh. Its maintenance as an independent kingdom
prevented them from combining their efforts, and obtaining that unity of
action which alone could ensure for them, if not a definite triumph,
at least preservation from complete extinction and an opportunity of
maintaining their liberty; the importance of the position, however,
rendered it particularly perilous to hold, and the Assyrians succeeded
in so doing only by strongly fortifying it. Walls were built round ten
cities, five on the Urartian frontier, three on that of Mushki, and two
on the north, and the country which they protected was made into a new
province, that of Tulgarimme, the district of Miliddu being confided
to the care of Mutallu, Prince of Kummukh (710). An incident which
took place in the following year furnished a pretext for completing
the organisation and military defence of this western border province.
Gurgum had been for thirty years or more in the possession of
Tarkhulara; this prince, after having served Sharduris, had transferred
his homage to Tiglath-pileser, and he had thenceforward professed
an unwavering loyalty to the Assyrian sovereigns. This accommodating
personage was assassinated by his son Mutallu; and Sargon, fearing
a revolt, hastened, at the head of a detachment of picked troops, to
avenge him. The murderer threw down his arms almost without having
struck a blow, and Gurgum was thenceforward placed under the direct
rule of Nineveh. The affair had not been brought to a close before an
outbreak took place in Southern Syria, which might have entailed very
serious consequences had it not been promptly dealt with. Egypt, united
from end to end under the sceptre of Sabaco, jealously kept watch over
the political complications in Asia, and though perhaps she was not
sure enough of her own strength to interfere openly before the death
of Eusas, she had renewed negotiations with the petty kingdoms of the
Hebrews and Philistines. Ashdod had for some time past showed signs
of discontent, and it had been found necessary to replace their king,
Azuri, who had refused to pay tribute, by his brother Akhimiti; shortly
after this, however, the people had risen in rebellion: th