the Kassites
image courtesy of Fulvio314, via Wikimedia Commons
Around 1,180 BC it is believed that the Kassites arrived from the Zagros Mountains. Not much is known of their early years.
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The Hittites, under the rule of King Murshili I, marched into Mesopotamia and destroyed the Amorite Kingdom of Yamhad and raided Babylon and then withdrew.
MapMaster, via Wikimedia Commons
The Hittites having left Babylon sacked and looted, left the Amorites, Haneans and Kassites to battle it out for rule. The Kassites gained control, some believe with the aid of the Hittites.
Sir H. C. Rawlinson, via Wikimedia Commons
Not much of Kassite history is known up to 1,500 BC, when Agum II took power of Babylon, however, it is believed that he united the people when he returned the stolen statue of Mardoc back to Babylon.
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Agum III conquered the Sealand Dynasty lands to their South in 1475 and the King of the Sealands escaoed to Elam.
Alexikoua, via Wikimedia Commons
The borders between Assyria and Babylonia were clearly defined and peace was maintained by the intermarriage of royalty. So, when the Babylonian king Kara-Hardash, who was married to the Assyrian kings daughter was assassinated by his own men, Asur-uballit I, king of Assyria marched into Babylon and killed Nazi-Bugash the reigning king, putting Kurigalzu in power to reign.
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Assyrian King Tukulti-Ninurta I, after attacking the Hittites and then forming a treaty, then attacked the Kassites and put a puppet king in place.
C. J. Gadd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Assyrians attacked again, when the Kassites were in decline. The Elamites also attacked and in 1,155 BC the last Kassite King Enlil-nadin-ahi was captured and taken to Elam.