Fesseha 19

Ethiopia's 5000 Year History, from Noah until the EPRDF, Fesseha Yaze Kassa, AD 2011

translated and annotated by Ras Feqade, AD 2021

### Chapter 19 - Reign of King Tiharqa 720-671 BC

[The dates given are equal to 713-664 BC. Tiharqa, currently spelled Taharqa by western scholars, was the son of Piankhi (744-714 BC), and known to have succeeded Shabaka and ruled in Egypt 26 years, 690-664 BC, thus the ending date given here in the text is correct. However despite what is represented here, he probably did not rule Ethiopia before that, in the years already assigned to Nikanta (714-705 BC) and Shabaka (705-690 BC). There is no room for Taharqa to have ruled Napata any longer than the time he is assigned in Egypt, that is, 690-664 BC.]

Tiharqa or Tirhaq is who grew in the palace beginning from the reign of Shabaka, and who is praised in his enduring while partaking within the kingdom's administration and wars, and is of royal seed that had acceptance.

And his name is seen quoted in the book of II Kings 19:9. And in that, it sets forth Tiharqa calling him "Tirhaq King of Ethiopia". And that it says Tirhaq, is in the Hebrew speech of the Israelites.

The Dr. Reisner who studied the history of the Nubian kings moreover has called him Tarhak. And it is known that the name and country name like this, was a matter whereby all researchers and writers of history were embittered of the gate opening for many confusions.

And in this measure, even though they don't release any of Tiharqa's contents, they call him Teharqa, Taruqah, Teharqu, Tiharqa, Taharqos, Tirhaq. And the Assyrians moreover have called him Tarku. But in the present era, the best and most accustomed pronunciation of all is Tiharqa. Or Tirhaq. And we find this K changing with Q in our speech. And let us continue the history calling him Tiharqa.

Tiharqa is who we see at 14th within the list of kings listed beginning from the Queen of Saba. After Tiharqa was crowned the crown of Pharaohship next from Nikanta Hendake, after he eliminated some rebel remnants from Egypt, it is known that with his army he subjected Libya, and passing there, the north of Africa in full, that is called Gibraltar to this day. And there are those who say he has crossed as far as Europe.

[He is indeed mentioned as 'Taraco' in Pujades' *History of Catalonia* 1609, as having reached Gibraltar and campaigned in Spain (see Pujades Book II chapter 7), but the story there seems missynchronized. It would also require a longer reign for him, as he seems to have spent his known historical reign preoccupied with Assyria. The original story that he reached the Pillars of Hercules and Spain in ca. 702 BC may be traced to Strabo, who cites Megasthenes (ca. 300 BC)]

While his own monument is found at the city of Thebes Karnak, worked largely, beside his monument also a monument is seen standing, that shows that of the Asians and Africans whom he captured fighting, there were 14 kings from Asia, 14 from Africa.

And because the Nile River overflowed more than ever at the time he reigned, all the people began to honor him and regard him with a special eye, saying It is a sign of his righteousness and kindness.

But after he endured 30 years in his rulership that was managed without any anguish, an enemy arose upon him. And he is the king called Asarhaddon, son of Senakrem king of Assyria.

[Senakrem = Ethiopian spelling of Sennacherib (Sin-ahha-eriba)]

As the kingdom of Assyria had become illustrious in this era and in the times preceding this era, now moreover after it invaded and ruled the Babylon, Tyre, Sidon, and all Israel who were beside it, as it was seen cooling on king Senakrem's death, when Senakrem's son Asarhaddon thereupon ruled moreover; to again defeat and subject the former rulers who, fighting when his father died, proclaimed their freedom, because king Asarhaddon endured running about to fight those who rebelled against him, he had not found time to rise against Egypt like he had been respected earlier.

But now around the 600th year, he was able to fight both Tyre and Sidon and make them subject like his father.

That these countries moreover made hope, became the Ethiopian King Tiharqa who doubly held the authority of Pharaoh of Egypt. And the Assyrians' king Asarhaddon, to be convinced of this, began his journey through Mt Sinai to fight the Pharaoh of Egypt Tiharqa. And when he was on the way, the desert snake that has twin skulls, that would consume ancient Israelites in the Sinai desert, finished Asarhaddon's army on him while stinging. Howbeit, while the officials of nomadic people who live in the Sinai region, came along with their followers, they were stirred to help him.

And being helped by them, he reached the capital of Egypt, Memphis. And additionally to this, because the princes of Egypt found in Northern Egypt would be straightened up by the Ethiopian Tiharqa's Pharaohship, it was known that by their cooperating with the king of Assyria, the looming war against Tiharqa went being difficult. Even so, he fought properly 15 days being at Memphis. And then fleeing Memphis because it failed him to defend, he fled to Thebes, and next to his country Napata, seizing his remaining army. His wives and his children, innumerable weapons and all the wealth found in Memphis, entered into the Assyrians' hands. And the Assyrians, by journeying from Memphis to Thebes, there too made the kind of plunder they made in Memphis. And gathering the wealth of both the palace and the temple, they sent it to their country Assyria. And demolishing the images of their gods, they substituted for them the images of their own gods.

And the princes of Egypt, holding their appearance for the King of Assyria Asarhaddon, came and bowed for him. And Asarhaddon making them all to be tributary, crowned twenty five princes of Egypt appointing them in each of their regions, and quitting his own officials and army, returned joyfully to his country.

And when he returned to his city Nineveh, in setting up his own image working a monument, moreover by working making Tiharqa beside him in the appearance of a small black African, he worked it pretending that Tiharqa bowed to him begging. But the reality is that they totally did not know seeing each other in person, for Tiharqa even to beg mercy bowing with the king of Assyria.

Moreover if they met, according to the Assyrians' rule of war, the captured king's hide would be whipped while standing until including his life, yet he is not released. Therefore all the writers have realized the monument of Tiharqa that Asarhoddon worked on the monument, is false.

Tiharqa, after his flight, returned to Napata and would prepare to seize Egypt /Upper Egypt/ again fighting the Assyrians.

And amidst this, the Egyptians themselves were convinced that the Ethiopians, who resemble them in religion, customs, language and writing, and who don't disparage their gods on them, are better for them than the Assyrians. And therefore, as soon as the rule of the Assyrians lasted around five years, they sent to Tiharqa saying "Come and be a leader over us, and save us from the Assyrians' yoke." And when he heard this message, he marched joyfully, fought with the Assyrians and won, and seizing the city of Memphis, continued his administration as formerly.

And then when he planted his victory monument at the place called Medine Habu, he also inscribed adding "and king of Assyria" at the foot of the monument in its place where was written 'King of the two countries Ethiopia and Egypt'.

And this is similar with the monument that Asarhaddon worked pretending Tiharqa begged him bowing, yet it is not the reality. And the reason is, Tiharqa didn't rule Assyria. Even though Asarhaddon went quitting them in Egypt, and the Assyrians /those in Egypt/ had been subjected for him, the battle and flight having embittered and wearied them, it did not make him King of Assyria.

After Tirhaqa journeyed from Napata to Mephis and was victorious, at the time Asarhaddon heard that he continued his Pharaohship, he arose from Nineveh and began a journey to Egypt. However because he died when he was on the way, his son Asurbanipal /Assur Ban Habal/ was delivered the kingship.

As soon as Tiharqa firmed up the Pharaohship, and when he passed 3 years at Memphis, the king of Assyria, after he also strengthened his kingdom at Nineveh for 3 years, sent many armies to Egypt. And the army that was sent defeated Tiharqa and again supervised Memphis.

And Tiharqa was again obliged to flee to Thebes. And because the princes of Egypt were unable, they again entered for the Assyrians /were subjected for them/.

The Assyrians' army sent the officials whom they captured to their king, to Nineveh, and when it was made they they be tortured cruelly and die, the Assyrians commanded to seize Tiharqa also expelled him from Thebes and driving him along the Nile, forced him to leave Thebes and flee to his fathers' country, Napata. And Tiharqa was forced to make his capital in his country, Napata.

And the Assyrians, making a reshuffle in Egypt, were able to preserve their rulership for a long time. Overall, after the King Tirhaqa, who was formationed in heroism from the row of powerful Nubian Ethiopian kings, and for whom much was said, returned to Napata by the Assyrians' burden, his fulfillment has also been able to happen in this Napata.

And so by this great Pharaoh doubly ruling Egypt and Ethiopia in unity 26 years, by ruling 23 years in his delineated domain Napata alone, he has endured in authority of rulership 49 years in total. And while all this is so, because they endured fleeing in war and fighting having returned and been organized, they were not yet fully seized of the authority of Egypt's pharaohship.

While he who reigned after Tiharqa's death is called Ard Amin Awsya, what is also known is that the era of his rule was only six years.

Blatten Geta Heruy, in his book *Wazema*, and likewise others, in revealing that it was Ard Amen who reigned next from Tiharqa, what was written for him is that also after his coronation, he thereupon gathered and organized his army, and journeying until Northern Egypt, tried to fight the Assyrians; and that the Assyrians chased him away without any worry; and then, having returned to Napata after his campaign, that he died. And after Ard Amin ruled 671-665 BC, when his successor was King of Kings Gesyo, he also has passed on the throne only six hours. It is not known why King Gesyo lasted only six hours, nor in what guise Tantamun received it.

[Taharqa was succeeded in Egypt directly by Tantamani in 664 BC Gregorian, but it seems in Napata this ephemeral Ard'amen Awsya must have ruled 664-658 BC, and Gesyo for six hours, before Tantamani followed them there as well.

The state known as Deamat (D'MT) is archaeologically attested from this time in Eritrea, and of the few kings attested there, between ca. 700 and 650 BC, one was called RD'M, likely the same as this Ard'amen.]

* Next: Fesseha 20.