SAA 02 015. Tell Tayinat Version of Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaty (JCS 64 091)[via saao/saa02]

(i_T_1) Seal of the god Aššur, king of the gods, lord of the lands — [not to be altered]; seal of the great ruler, father of the gods — not to be disputed.

(1_T_i_1) The treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with the governor of Kunalia, with the deputy, the major-domo, the scribes, the chariot drivers, the third men, the village managers, the information officers, the prefects, the cohort commanders, the charioteers, the cavalrymen, the exempt, the outriders, the specialists, the shi[eld bearers (?)], the craftsmen, (and) with [all] the men [of his hands], great and small, as many as there a[re] — [wi]th them and with the men who are born after the treaty in the [fu]ture, from the east [...] to the west, all those over whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, exercises kingship and lordship, concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, the son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, [on] whose [be]half he established the treaty with you.

(13–14_T_i_20) (which he) confirmed, made and [concluded in the presence of Ju]piter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and [Sirius];

(16_T_i_22) [in the presence of] Aššur, Anu, Illil, [Ea], Sin, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, [Nusku, (Uraš, Nergal, Mullissu)], Šerua, Belet-ili, the gods d[welling in] heaven and earth, the gods of Assyria, the gods of Sumer and Akkad, all the god[s of the lands].

(25_T_i_29) [Swear each individually] by Aššur, father of the gods, lord of the lands!

(26_T_i_30) [Ditto] by Anu, Illil and Ea! [Ditto] by Sin, [Šamaš, Adad and Marduk]!

(28_T_i_31) [Ditto by Nabû, Nusku], Uraš and Ne[rgal]!

(29_T_i_32) [Ditto] by Mulli[ssu, Šer]ua and [Belet-ili]!

(30_T_i_33) [Ditto] by Ištar of [Nineveh] and Ištar of Arbe[la]!

(?_T_i_34) [Ditto] by all the gods of [...]!

(31_T_i_35) [Ditto] by all the gods of the Inner C[ity]!

(32_T_i_36) [Ditto] by all the gods [of Ninev]eh! Ditto by all the gods [of Calah]!

(34?_T_i_37) ... [...] ... [...]

(35?_T_i_38) the gods [...]

(40A?_T_i_44') [god]s [...]

(40B?_T_i_45') [...] the gods of [one's] lan[d ...]

(41_T_i_46') (This is) the treaty [which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has concluded with you, in the presence of the great gods] of heaven [and earth], on be[half] of [Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, whom he has named and appointed to the crown-princeship]:

(47?_T_i_51') [When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away, you will seat Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate], upon [the royal throne, and he will exercise the kingship and lordship of Assyria over you. You shall protect him in country and in town, fall and die for him. You shall speak with him in the truth of your heart, give him sound advice loyally, and smooth his way in every respect].

(58_T_i_62') You [shall neither change nor alter the word of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, but serve this very Assurbanipal, the great] cro[wn prince designate], whom [Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord], has pres[ented to you, and he shall exercise] the kingship and dominion of Assyria] over [you].

(62_T_i_68') You shall protect [Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has presented and ordered for you, and on behalf of whom he has confirmed and concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall not sin against him, nor bring] your hand [against him] with evil intent, nor revolt or do anything to him which is not [good and proper];

(69_T_i_75') [you shall not oust him] from the kingship [of Assyria] by [helping] one of his brothers, elder or younger, [to se]ize [the throne] of Assyria [in his stead], nor set [any other king or] any other lord over you, nor swear an oa[t]h to any other king or any other lord.

(73_T_i_80') If you [hear] any [impro]per, unsuitable or unseemly word concerning [the exercise of kingship which is] un[seemly and evil against Assurbanipal], the (great) crown prince designate, either from the mouth of [his] brothers, [his uncles, his cousins, his family, members of his father's line]; or from the mouth of [magnates and governors, or from the mouth of the bearded courtiers] and the eu[nuchs, or from the mouth of the scholars or from the mouth of any human being at all, you shall not conceal it but come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate].

(178?_T_iii_5) [You shall not make common cause with (any)one who may revolt against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince [designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you, but, should they seize you by force, you shall flee and come] to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince [designate].

(180?_T_iii_6) [You shall not, whether while on a guard duty ...... or on a day of rest, while residing within the land or while entering a tax-collection point, set in your mind an unfavourable thought against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate; you shall not revolt against him, nor make rebellion, nor do anything to him which is not good].

(257_T_iv_1) [You shall wait for a woman pregnant by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, (or) for the wife of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate (to give birth), and after (a son) is born, bring him up and set him on the throne of Assyria, seize and slay the perpetrators of rebellion, destroy their name and their seed from the land, and] by shedding [blood for blood], avenge Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate.

(259_T_iv_3) You shall not give [As]surbani[pal], the great crown [prince] designate, son of [Esarha]ddon, king of Assyria, yo[ur lord], a deadly drug to eat or to drink, [nor anoint him with it], nor practice [witchcraft] against him, [nor make gods and goddesses ang]ry [with him].

(266_T_iv_8) [You shall love] Assurbanipal, [the great crown prince] designate, [son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria], your [lord, like yourselves].

(344_T_v_1) [If someone involves you in a plot, be it one of his brothers, his uncles, his relations, a member of his father's line, a eunuch or a bearded (courtier), an Assyrian or a foreigner, or any human being at all, saying: "Slander his brothers, sons by his own mother, before him, make it come to a fight between them, and divide his brothers, sons of his own mother, from him"], you shall not obey nor speak evil about his brothers in his presence, nor divide him from his brothers; you shall not let those who speak such things go free but shall come and report to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate as follows: "Your father imposed a treaty on us and made us swear an oath concerning it."

(353_T_v_9) You will not look at Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or his brothers without reverence or submission. If someone does not protect him, you will fight them as if fighting for yourselves. You will bring frightful terror into their hearts, saying: "Your (pl.) father wrote (this) in the treaty, he established it, and he has made us swear it."

(353_T_v_16) You will not look at Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or his brothers without reverence or submission. If someone does not protect him, you will fight them as if fighting for [your]se[lves]. You will bring frightful terror into their hearts, saying: "Your (pl.) father wrote (this) in the treaty, he established it, and he has made us swear it."

(360_T_v_24) When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, passes away and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, ascends the royal throne, you shall not say any evil word about his brothers, sons of his own mother, before their brother nor try to make them hateful (saying): "Bring your hand against them for an evil deed." You shall not alienate them from Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, nor shall you say any evil word about them in the presence of their brother. (As for) the positions which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, their father, assigned them, you shall not speak in the presence of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (trying to make him) remove them from their positions.

(373_T_v_37) You shall not smear your face, your hands, and your [throat] with ... [against the god]s of the assembly, nor [tie] it in your lap, nor d[o] anything to undo the oath.

(377_T_v_41) You shall not try to revoke or undo (this) oath ... [...]; you shall neither think of nor perform a ritual to revoke or undo this oath. You and your sons to be born in the future will be bound by this oath concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, from this day on until what(ever) comes after this treaty.

(385_T_v_49) While you stand on the place of this oath, you shall not swear this oath with your lips only but shall swear it wholeheartedly; you shall teach it to your [sons] to be born after this treaty; you shall not feign unclean illness but take part in this treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. In the future and forever Aššur will be your god, and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, will be your lord. May your sons and your grandsons fear his sons.

(397_T_v_61) Whoever changes, neglects, violates, or voids the oath of this tablet and transgresses against the father, the lord, (and) the treaty of the great gods(?) (and) breaks their entire oath, or whoever discards this treaty tablet, a tablet of Aššur, king of the gods, and the great gods, my lords, or whoever removes the statue of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the statue of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or the statue(s) of his brothers (and) his sons which are over him — you will guard like your god this sealed tablet of the great ruler on which is written the treaty of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, the son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, which is sealed with the seal of Aššur, king of the gods, and which is set up before you.

(410_T_v_73) If you should remove it, consign it to the fire, throw it into the water, cover it in the earth or destroy it by any cunning device, annihilate or deface it,