Editing Sargon II (section)

=== Urartu–Assyria War ===
{{See also|Urartu–Assyria War}}
[[File:Urartu 715 713-en.svg|upright=1.7|thumb|[[Urartu]] and the Assyrian frontier under [[Rusa I]], from 715 to 713 BC.|alt=Map of Urartu and the Assyrian frontier|left]]
[[Urartu]] remained Sargon's main strategic rival in the north.{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} In 715, Urartu was severely weakened by an unsuccessful expedition against the [[Cimmerians]], a nomadic people in the central [[Caucasus]]. The Cimmerians defeated the Urartian army and raided Urartian lands as far as immediately south-west of [[Lake Urmia]]. [[Ullusunu of Mannaea|Ullusunu]] of [[Mannaea]] had switched by then his loyalty to Assyria.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=192}} Rusa seized some of Ullusunu's fortresses and replaced him with [[Daiukku]] as the new king. Months later, Sargon invaded Mannaea, recaptured Ullusunu's fortresses and restored him to the throne. Rusa attempted to drive Sargon back, but his army was defeated in the foothills of [[Sahand]]. Sargon also received the tribute of [[Ianzu]], king of [[Nairi]], another former Urartian vassal.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=227–228, 230}} Preparing for a campaign against Rusa, Sargon defeated some minor rebels in Media. In [[Anatolia]], [[Urik of Quwê|Urik]] of [[Ḫiyawa|Quwê]], changed his allegiance from Sargon to [[Midas]] of [[Phrygia]] and began sending envoys to Rusa. To prevent the formation of a northern alliance, Sargon attacked Quwê, defeating Urik and recapturing some cities that had fallen to Midas. Quwê was abolished as a vassal kingdom and annexed.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=228–229}}

Suspecting an Assyrian invasion, Rusa kept most of his army by [[Lake Urmia]], close to the Assyrian border, which was already fortified against Assyrian invasion.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=192}} The shortest path from Assyria to the Urartian heartland went through the ''Kel-i-šin'' pass in the [[Taurus Mountains]]. One of the most important places in all of Urartu, the holy city [[Musasir]], was located just west of this pass and was protected by fortifications. Rusa ordered the construction of the ''[[Gerdesorah]]'', a new fortress strategically positioned on a hill.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=191}} The ''Gerdesorah'' was still under construction when the Assyrians invaded.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=194}}

[[File:Tang-i Var 2012, F.Biglari.JPG|thumb|upright=0.8|Inscription of Sargon at the Tang-i Var pass near the village of [[Tangivar]], [[Hawraman]], [[Iran]].|alt=Rock relief of Sargon in a mountain pass]]
Sargon left the Assyrian capital of [[Nimrud]] in July 714. Rejecting the shortest route through the ''Kel-i-šin'' pass, Sargon marched his army through the valleys of the [[Great Zab|Great]] and [[Little Zab]] for three days before halting near Mount Kullar (the location of which remains unidentified). There Sargon chose a longer route through [[Kermanshah Province|Kermanshah]], probably since he knew the Urartians anticipated him attacking through the pass.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=197}} The longer route delayed the Assyrians with mountains and greater distance.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=197}} The campaign had to be completed before October, when the mountain passes would become blocked by snow. This meant that conquest, if that had been the intention, would not be possible.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=197}}

Sargon reached [[Gilzanu]], near Lake Urmia, and made camp. The Urartian forces regrouped and built new fortifications west and south of Lake Urmia.{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=198}} Though Sargon's forces had been granted supplies and water by his vassals in Media, his troops were exhausted and nearly mutinous. When Rusa arrived, the Assyrian army refused to fight. Sargon assembled his bodyguards and led them in a near-suicidal charge against the nearest wing of the Urartian forces. Sargon's army followed him, defeated the Urartians, and chased them west, far past Lake Urmia. Rusa abandoned his forces and fled into the mountains.{{Sfn|Bauer|2007|p=377}}

On their way home, the Assyrians destroyed the ''Gerdesorah'' and captured and plundered Musasir{{Sfn|Jakubiak|2004|p=198}} after the local governor, king Urzana, refused to welcome Sargon. An enormous quantity of spoils were carried back to Assyria. Urzana was forgiven and allowed to continue to govern Musasir as an Assyrian vassal. Though Urartu remained powerful and Rusa retook Musasir, the 714 campaign put an end to direct confrontations between Urartu and Assyria for the rest of Sargon's reign.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=231}} Sargon considered the campaign one of the major events of his reign. It was described in exceptional detail in his inscriptions and several of the reliefs in his palace were decorated with representations of the sack of Musasir.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=229}}