Editing Scythians (section)

====Initial activities in West Asia====
The Scythian and Cimmerian movements into Anatolia and the Iranian Plateau would act as catalysts for the adoption of Eurasian nomadic military and equestrian equipments by various West Asian states:{{sfn|Adalı|2017|p=69}} it was during the 7th and 6th centuries BCE that "Scythian-type" socketed arrowheads and [[Recurve bow|sigmoid bows]] ideal for use by mounted warriors were adopted throughout West Asia.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Phillips|1972|p=135}}|{{harvnb|Diakonoff|1985|p=92}}|{{harvnb|Adalı|2017|p=69}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|2018}}}}</ref>

The Mannaean king Aḫšeri ({{reign|{{c.|675}}|{{c.|650 BC}}}}) welcomed the Cimmerians and the Scythians as useful allies against the Neo-Assyrian Empire.{{sfn|Fuchs|2023|p=747}} During the period corresponding to the reign of the Neo-Assyrian king [[Esarhaddon]] ({{reign|681|669 BC}}), the Scythians were active in association with Mannai and Media,{{sfn|Ivantchik|1999a|p=508}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2006|p=148}} with their first ever recorded mention from the Neo-Assyrian records of {{c.|680 BC}}.{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=99}}{{sfn|Olbrycht|2000b|p=107}} Around this time, Aḫšēri was hindering operations by the Neo-Assyrian Empire between its own territory and Mannai.{{sfn|Fuchs|2023|p=748}} During these attacks, the Scythians were able to reach and attack distant Neo-Assyrian provinces,<ref>{{unbulleted list|{{harvnb|Barnett|1982|p=358}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|1993a|pp=85–87}}|{{harvnb|Fuchs|2023|pp=747–748}}|{{harvnb|Adalı|2023|p=214}}}}</ref> and on one occasion core territories.{{sfn|Ivantchik|1993a|p=87}}{{sfn|Fuchs|2023|p=748-749}}

These forces were defeated some time between {{c.|680}} and {{c.|677 BC}} by Esarhaddon, who carried out a retaliatory campaign which reached deep into Median territory.{{sfn|Diakonoff|1985|p=103-104}}{{sfn|Dandamayev|Medvedskaya|2006}} [[Išpakāya]], the Scythians' first knowwn king, was killed during this campaign, and he was succeeded by [[Bartatua]],<ref>{{unbulleted list|{{harvnb|Grousset|1970|p=8}}|{{harvnb|Diakonoff|1985|p=97}}|{{harvnb|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=564}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|1999c|p=517}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|1993b|pp=326–327}}|{{harvnb|Adalı|2017|p=63}}|{{harvnb|Fuchs|2023|p=749}}}}</ref> with whom Esarhaddon might have immediately initiated negotiations.{{sfn|Diakonoff|1985|p=103}} By 672 BC, Bartatua had asked for the hand of the eldest daughter of Esarhaddon, the Neo-Assyrian princess [[Šērūʾa-ēṭirat]], and promised to form an alliance treaty with the Neo-Assyrian Empire in an act of careful diplomacy.{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} Bartatua's marriage to Šērūʾa-ēṭirat required that he would pledge allegiance to Assyria as a [[vassal]], which made the Scythian presence in West Asia a nominal extension of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=172}}{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=565}} Henceforth, the Scythian kingdom remained a Neo-Assyrian ally.{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=567}}

The eastern Cimmerians soon left the Iranian Plateau and retreated westwards into Anatolia.{{sfn|Fuchs|2023|p=752-}} Although Mannai had been powerful under Aḫšeri, this power had depended on his alliance with the Cimmerians and Scythians. Their absence allowed Esarhaddon's successor [[Ashurbanipal]] ({{reign|669|631 BC}}) to carry out a campaign against Mannai between 660 and 659 BC.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Phillips|1972|p=132}}|{{harvnb|Diakonoff|1985|p=115}}|{{harvnb|Adalı|2017|p=71}}|{{harvnb|Fuchs|2023|pp=752–754}}}}</ref> Bartatua, acting as an intermediary,{{sfn|Diakonoff|1985|p=116}} annexed Mannai into the Scythian kingdom.{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=564}}{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=28}} Following this, the centre of Scythian power in West Asia shifted to [[Sakez]] near [[Lake Urmia]],{{sfn|Phillips|1972|p=132}}{{sfn|Barnett|1991|p=359}} where fertile pastures allowed the Scythians to rea large herds of horses.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Loehr|1955|p=63}}|{{harvnb|Phillips|1972|p=132}}|{{harvnb|Barnett|1991|p=358}}|{{harvnb|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=563}}|{{harvnb|Jacobson|1995|p=33}}|{{harvnb|Cunliffe|2019|p=33}}}}</ref>