Editing Sargon II (section)

=== Last years ===
[[File:Sargon II map.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of the Neo-Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III (dark) and after Sargon's conquests (dark and green)|alt=Map of Sargon's conquests]]
After he took [[Babylon]] in 710, Sargon was proclaimed [[king of Babylon]] by the citizens of the city and spent the next three years in Babylon, in Marduk-apla-iddina's palace.{{Sfn|Van Der Spek|1977|p=57}} Affairs in Assyria were in these years overseen by Sargon's son [[Sennacherib]]. Sargon participated in the annual Babylonian ''[[Akitu]]'' (New Years) festival and received homage and gifts from rulers of lands as far away from the heartland of his empire as [[Bahrain]] and [[Cyprus]].{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=183}} Sargon engaged himself in various domestic affairs in Babylonia, digging a new canal from [[Borsippa]] to Babylon and defeating a people called the [[Hamaranaeans]] that had been plundering caravans near [[Sippar]].{{Sfn|Van Der Spek|1977|p=57}} In Sargon's inscriptions from this time, he used some traditionally Babylonian elements in his royal titles and frequently mentioned deities popular in Babylonia rather than those popular in Assyria. Some Assyrians, even members of the royal family, disagreed with Sargon's pro-Babylonian attitude.{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=183}}{{Efn|In texts written by Sargon's grandson [[Esarhaddon]], Sargon is for instance criticized for being excessively lenient and indulgent in Babylonia.{{sfn|Frahm|2017|p=183}}}}

In Sargon's absence, developments in the rest of the empire were dealt with by his officials and generals. [[Midas]] of [[Phrygia]] remained a threat to Assyrian interests; to ensure that communication and trade remained open to Assyrian vassals in [[Anatolia]], the Assyrians carefully monitored him. In 709, the Assyrian governor of [[Ḫiyawa|Quwê]], [[Ashur-sharru-usur]] personally resolved to end the Phrygian threat. His raids into Phrygia and the capture of a mountain fortress, perhaps [[Hilakku]], frightened Midas, who willingly became Sargon's vassal.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=236–237}}

[[File:Stela of Sargon II from Cyprus, late 8th century BCE. Pergamon Museum.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|The [[Sargon Stele]], erected in honor of Sargon at [[Kition]] on [[Cyprus]] some time after an Assyrian expedition in 709 BC.|left|alt=Stele of Sargon II]]
In 709, Assyria sent an expedition to [[Cyprus]].{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=237}} This was the first time that the Assyrians gained detailed knowledge of the island.{{Sfn|Radner|2010|p=440}} Sargon did not personally participate in the campaign{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=237}} and the Assyrians relied on their Levantine vassals for transportation.{{Sfn|Radner|2010|p=438}} Because Cyprus was far away, actually controlling the island would have been difficult, but the campaign resulted in several Cypriote rulers paying tribute to Sargon.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=237}} After the departure of the expedition, the Cypriotes, probably with the aid of an Assyrian [[Stonemasonry|stonemason]] sent by the royal court,{{Sfn|Radner|2010|p=432}} fashioned the [[Sargon Stele]]. The stele was an ideological marker indicating the boundary of the Assyrian king's [[sphere of influence]] and to mark the incorporation of Cyprus into the Assyrians' "known world". Since it had the king's image and words on it, it served as a representation of Sargon and a substitute for his presence.{{Sfn|Radner|2010|p=440}}

In 709, one of Sargon's officers besieged the [[Phoenicia]]n city of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] after its leader refused to ally with Assyria. It proved to be one of the few military blunders of Sargon's time; the city resisted the Assyrians for several years until Sargon's death, after which the Assyrian army left. In 708, Mutallu of [[Kummuh]] withheld his tribute to Assyria for unknown reasons and allied with the new Urartian king [[Argishti II]]. Sargon sent one of his officers to capture Kummuh. The Assyrians heavily plundered Kummuh and annexed its lands. Mutallu survived, probably escaping to [[Urartu]].{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=237–238}}

{{quote|quote=May the ruler, its builder, reach and attain the old age, and (abundant) posterity, may its founder live into the distant days (of the future) ... may he who dwells therein, make jubilation in health of body, joy of heart, well-being of soul; may he have abundance of luck.|author=Excerpt from inscription by Sargon after the foundation of Dur-Sharrukin illustrating his hope to reside in the city for a long time.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=209}}}}

[[Dur-Sharrukin]] was completed in 707 after a decade of construction.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=201}} Sargon returned to Assyria{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=183}} to prepare the city's inauguration.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=201}} A year later, he moved the royal court to Dur-Sharrukin.{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=183}} The inauguration began with Sargon "inviting the gods" to Dur-Sharrukin, placing statues of various gods in the city's temples. Sargon invited "princes of (all) countries, the governors of my land, scribes and superintendents, nobles, officials and elders of Assyria" to a great feast. The common people who had helped build the city were also invited to partake in the celebration, dining in the same hall as the king.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|pp=205, 207, 209}} Already shortly after its inauguration, the new capital was densely populated.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=206}}