Sarduri II

Sarduri II (ruled: 764–735 BC) was a King of Urartu, succeeding his father Argishti I to the throne. The Urartian Kingdom was at its peak during his reign, campaigning successfully against several neighbouring powers, including Assyria.

Reign The succession of Sarduri II is not entirely clear. A king named Sarduri III is also attested, who may have been Rusa's father instead.

Sarduri II notably expanded Urartian territory by conquering the northern region of Colchis, as well as Melid and Kummuh in the Euphrates valley. Urartian sources refer to campaigns of Sarduri II against a place called "Babilu", which has sometimes been identified with Kassite regions that were formerly part of Babylonian Empire

In 743 BC, at a battle located somewhere in Kummuh, the Assyrians, under Tiglath-pileser III, defeated Sarduri and his anti-Assyrian coalition, forcing the Urartians back across the Euphrates.

Sarduri II was so confident in his power that he erected a massive wall at Tushpa (modern-day Van) with the following inscription:

He may also have been succeeded by his son, Rusa I. There are various theories about this, but the matter is still disputed because of the lack of solid evidence. Kayalıdere castle is one of the important checkpoints built during the reign of the king of Urartu.

Early campaigns

The following are two passages from Sarduri II's inscriptions found at Van by Armenian archeologist Joseph Orbeli in 1912: Claims of conquests such as this appear repeatedly: