Editing Shalmaneser III (section)

===Campaigns===
Shalmaneser began a campaign against [[Urartu]] and reported that in 858 BCE, he destroyed the city of [[Sugunia]], and then in 853 BCE Araškun. Both cities are assumed to have been capitals of Urartu before [[Tushpa]] became a center for the Urartians.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Socio-Economic Organisation of the Urartian Kingdom|last=Çiftçi|first=Ali|publisher=Brill|year=2017|isbn=9789004347588|pages=190}}</ref> In 853 BC, a coalition was formed by eleven states, mainly by [[Hadadezer]], King of [[Aram-Damascus]]; [[Irhuleni]], king of [[Hamath]]; [[Ahab]], king of [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Northern Israel]]; [[Gindibu]], king of the [[Arabs]]; and some other rulers who fought the Assyrian king at the [[Battle of Qarqar]]. The result of the battle was not decisive, and Shalmaneser III had to fight his enemies several times again in the coming years, which eventually resulted in the occupation of [[the Levant]], [[Jordan]], and the [[Syrian Desert]] by the Assyrian Empire.

In 851 BC, following a rebellion in Babylon, Shalmaneser led a campaign against Marduk-bēl-ušate, younger brother of the king, [[Marduk-zakir-shumi I]], who was an ally of Shalmaneser.<ref>Jean Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles, Atlanta 2004,</ref> In the second year of the campaign, Marduk-bēl-ušate was forced to retreat and was killed. A record of these events was made on the [[Black Obelisk]]:

{{ quote|In the eighth year of my reign, Marduk-bêl-usâte, the younger brother, revolted against Marduk-zâkir-šumi, king of [[Karduniaš]], and they divided the land in its entirety. In order to avenge Marduk-zâkir-šumi, I marched out and captured Mê-Turnat. In the ninth year of my reign, I marched against Akkad a second time. I besieged Ganannate. As for Marduk-bêl-usâte, the terrifying splendor of Assur and Marduk overcame him and he went up into the mountains to save his life. I pursued him. I cut down with the sword Marduk-bêl-usâte and the rebel army officers who were with him.|Shalmaneser III|Black Obelisk<ref group=i>''[[Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III|Black Obelisk]]'', BM WAA 118885, crafted {{Circa|827 BC}}, lines 73–84</ref> }}