Editing Sargon II (section)

=== Proxy wars and minor conflicts ===
[[File:Periodo neo assiro, rilievi dalla stanza 7 del palazzo di sargon II a khorsabad, 721-705 ac ca. 02 cocchio reale.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Sargon depicted in a chariot in one of the [[relief]]s from his palace in [[Dur-Sharrukin]].|alt=Sargon in a chariot on a rock relief]]A pressing concern for Sargon was the kingdom of [[Urartu]] in the north.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=222}} Though no longer as powerful as it had been in the past, when it at times rivalled Assyria in strength and influence,{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|pp=170–171}} Urartu still remained an alternative suzerain for many smaller states in the north. In 718, Sargon intervened in [[Mannaea]], one of these states. This campaign was as much a military effort as it was a diplomatic one; King [[Iranzu]] of Mannaea had been an Assyrian vassal for more than 25 years and had requested Sargon to aid him. A rebellion by the Urartu-aligned noble [[Mitatti]] occupied half of Iranzu's kingdom, but thanks to Sargon, Mitatti's uprising was suppressed. Shortly after the victory over the rebels, Iranzu died and Sargon intervened in the succession, supporting Iranzu's son [[Aza of Mannea|Aza]] rise to the throne of Mannaea. Another son, [[Ullusunu]], contested his brother's accession and was supported in his efforts against him by [[Rusa I]] of Urartu.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=222–223}}

Another of Sargon's prominent foreign enemies was the powerful and expansionist [[Midas]] of [[Phrygia]] in central Anatolia.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=223, 236–237}} Sargon worried about a possible alliance between Phrygia and Urartu and Midas' use of [[proxy warfare]] by encouraging Assyrian vassal states to rebel. Sargon could not fight against Midas directly but had to deal with uprisings by his vassals among the [[Syro-Hittite states]], most of them located in remote locations in the mountains of southern [[Anatolia]]. It was crucial to keep control over the regions of [[Tabal (region)|Tabal]] and [[Quwê]] to prevent communication between Midas and Rusa. Tabal—several minor states competing with each other, contested between Assyria, Phrygia and Urartu—was particularly important since it was rich in natural resources (including silver). Sargon campaigned against Tabal in 718, mostly against [[Kiakki]] of [[Shinuhtu]], who withheld tribute and conspired with Midas. Sargon could not conquer Tabal because of its isolation and difficult terrain. Instead, Shinuhtu was given to a rival Tabalian ruler, [[Kurtî]] of [[Atunna]]. Kurtî conspired with Midas at some point between 718 and 713, but later maintained his allegiance to Sargon.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=223–224}}

Sargon returned to [[Syria (region)|Syria]] in 717 to defeat an uprising led by [[Pisiri]] of [[Carchemish]], who had supported Sargon during [[Yahu-Bihdi]]'s revolt but was now plotting with Midas to overthrow Assyrian [[hegemony]] in the region. The uprising was defeated and the population of Carchemish was deported and replaced with Assyrians. The city and its surrounding lands were turned into an Assyrian province and an Assyrian palace was constructed.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=224}} The conquest might have inspired Sargon to build his own new capital city ([[Dur-Sharrukin]]),{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=224}} a project which could be financed with the [[silver]] plundered from Carchemish.{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} Sargon took so much silver from Carchemish that silver began to replace [[copper]] as the currency of the empire.{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} Despite Sargon's repeated victories in the west, the [[Levant]] was not fully stabilized.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=84}}

Sargon established a new trading post near the border of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] in 716, staffed it with people deported from various conquered lands and placed it under the local [[Arabs|Arab]] ruler [[Laban (tribal leader)|Laban]], an Assyrian vassal. In later writings, Sargon for unknown reasons falsely claimed that he in this year also subjugated the people of Egypt. In actuality, Sargon is recorded to have engaged in diplomacy with Pharaoh [[Osorkon IV]], who gifted Sargon with twelve horses.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=226}}

In 716, Sargon campaigned between [[Urartu]] and [[Elam]], perhaps part of a strategy to weaken these enemies. Passing through [[Mannaea]], Sargon attacked [[Medes|Media]], probably to establish control there and neutralize the region as a potential threat before confronting either Urartu or Elam. The local Medes were disunited and posed no serious threat to Assyria. After Sargon defeated them and established Assyrian provinces, he let the established local lords continue to rule their respective cities as vassals. Supplanting them and integrating the lands further into the imperial bureaucracy would have been costly and time-consuming due to their remoteness. As part of this eastern campaign, Sargon defeated some local rebels, including [[Bag-dati]] of [[Uishdish]] and [[Bel-sharru-usur of Kisheshim|Bel-sharru-usur]] of [[Kisheshim]]. In Mannaea, Ullusunu had succeeded in taking the throne from his brother Aza. Instead of deposing Ullusunu and proclaiming a new king, Sargon accepted Ullusunu's submission and endorsed him as king, forgiving his uprising and gaining his allegiance.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=226–227}}