Nabsur

### Preceeded by

Nabû-šuma-iškun (in Babylon) or Sîn-šar-iškun (in Assyria), Orey-Ariant or vacant, last held by Blagomir (amongst the Slavs)

### Succeeded by

Nabû-nādin-zēri or Nebuchadnezzar II (in Babylon), Orey-Ariant (amongst the Slavs)

**Nabsur** (called **Набсур-сар**, or “**Nabsur the king**” in the Book of Veles) is a (fictional) middle-eastern prince. He is identified with the historical king **Nabû-nāṣir**, also called **Nabonasar**, a king of Babylon, but more often also with **Nabopolassar**, a later king of Babylon.

## In History

#### On Nabonasar

In history, Nabonasar is quite obscure. He deposed a foreign usurper named Nabû-šuma-iškun, and some time afterwards began an astronomical diary which would eventually become the Ptolemaic Canon. Not long after, Tiglath-Pileser III, King of Assyria, conquered Babylon, but still allowed Nabonasar to keep limited power and the title "King of Babylon". Nabonasar would then be succeeded by his son Nabu-nadin-zeri.

##### From the ABC 1 Chronicle (The Chronicle from Nabonasar to Šamaš-šuma-ukin)

"The third year of **Nabû-nasir**, king of Babylon: Tiglath-Pileser ascended the throne in Assyria. In that same year the king of Assyria went down to Akkad, plundered Rabbilu and Hamranu, and abducted the gods of Šapazza. In the time of **Nabû-nasir** Borsippa committed hostile acts against Babylon but the battle which **Nabû-Nasir** waged against Borsippa is not written.

The fifth year of **Nabû-nasir**: Humban-Nikaš ascended to the throne in Elam.

The fourteenth year: **Nabû-nasir** fell ill and went to his destiny in his palace.

For fourteen years **Nabû-nasir** ruled Babylon. Nabû-nadin-zeri, his son, ascended the throne in Babylon."

##### From the ABC 1b Chronicle (The Chronicle from Nabonasar to Esarhaddon)

"Bêl did not come out [for the Akitu festival]

The third year of **Nabû-nasir**, king of Babylon: Tiglath-Pileser ascended the throne in Assyria. In that same year the king of Assyria went down to Akkad plundered Rabbilu and Hamranu and abducted the gods of Šapazza.

The fifth year of **Nabû-nasir**: Humban-Nikaš ascended to the throne in Elam.

The [...] year: Tiglath-pileser, took [...] they went down."

##### From the Ptolemaic Canon

The Ptolemaic Canon calls Nabonasar "**Nabonassáros**" and says he ruled from 747 - 734 BC.

##### From the Greco-Jewish historian Josephus quoting from the Greco-Babylonian astrologer Berossus

"From the reign of **Nabonassaros** only are the Chaldæans (from whom the Greek mathematicians copy) accurately acquainted with the heavenly motions: for **Nabonassaros** collected all the mementos of the kings prior to himself, and destroyed them, that the enumeration of the Chaldæan kings might commence with him."

#### On Nabopolassar

Nabopolassar is a major figure in Babylonian history. He was one of the main contributors to the fall of the Assyrian empire, and was the father of the even more famous king Nebuchadnezzar II.

##### From the ABC 2 chronicle (early years of Nabopolassar)

In the month of [...] **Nabopolassar**, having sent troops to Babylon, at night entered the city and they did battle within the city all day. They inflicted a defeat on Assyria. The garrison of Sin-šarra-iškun fled to Assyria. The city was entrusted to [...].

On the twelfth day of the month Ulûlu the army of Assyria went down to Akkad, entered Šasanaku, set fire to the temple and plundered it. And in the month Tašrîtu the gods of Kiš went to Babylon. The Nthe day, the army of Assyria went to Nippur and **Nabopolassar** retreated before them. The army of Assyria and the Nippureans followed him to Uruk, they did battle against **Nabopolassar** in Uruk, and retreated before **Nabopolassar**. In the month Ajaru the army of Assyria went down to Akkad. On the twelfth day of the month Tašrîtu when the army of Assyria had marched against Babylon and the Babylonians had come out of Babylon; on that day they did battle against the army of Assyria, inflicted a major defeat upon the army of Assyria, and plundered them.

For one year there was no king in the land. On the twenty-sixth day of the month Arahsamna **Nabopolassar** ascended the throne in Babylon. The accession year of **Nabolossar**: in the month Addaru **Nabolossar** returned to Susa the gods of Susa whom the Assyrians had carried off and settled in Uruk.

The first year of **Nabopolassar**: On the seventeenth of the month Nisannu panic overcame the city. Šamaš and the gods of Šapazzu went to Babylon. On the twenty-first day of the month Ajaru the army of Assyria entered Raqmat and carried off the booty. On the twentieth day of the month [...] the gods of Sippar went to Babylon. On the ninth day of the month Âbu **Nabopolassar** and his army marched to Raqmat. He did battle against Raqmat but did not capture the city. Instead, the army of Assyria arrived so he retreated before them and withdrew.

The second year of **Nabopolassar**: at the beginning of the month Ulûlu the army of Assyria went down to Akkad and camped by the Banitu canal. They did battle against Nabopolassar but achieved nothing [...] and withdrew.

The third year: On the eight day of the month [...] Der rebelled against Assyria. On the fifteenth day of the month Tašrîtu [the Assyrian general] Itti-ili joined battle with Nippur. Afterward the king of Assyria went down to Akkad with his troops and took possession of Der; het took out its treasures and had them sent to Nippur. He pursued Itti-ili, ravaged Uruk?, and set up a garrison at Nippur. He went up from beyond the Euphrates and set out toward Assyria. He ravaged [...]nu and set out for Nineveh. [...] who had come to do battle against him [..wh]en they saw him they bowed down before him. [...] The rebel king [...] one hundred days [...] when [...] rebel [...]

##### From the ABC 3 chronicle (fall of Nineveh)

The tenth year of **Nabopolassar**: In the month Ajaru, **Nabopolassar** mustered the army of Akkad and marched along the bank of the Euphrates. The Suheans and Hindaneans did not do battle against him but placed their tribute before him. In the month Âbu the army of Assyria prepared for battle in Gablini and **Nabopolassar** went up against them. On the twelfth of the month Âbu he did battle against the army of Assyria and the army of Assyria retreated before him. He inflicted a major defeat upon Assyria and plundered them extensively. He captured the Manneans, who had come to the Assyrians' aid, and the Assyrian officers. On the same day he captured Gablini. In the month Âbu the **king of Akkad** and his army went upstream to Mane, Sahiri and Bali-hu. He plundered them, sacked them extensively and abducted their gods. In the month Ulûlu the **king of Akkad** and his army returned and on his way he took the people of Hindanu and its gods to Babylon. In the month Tašrîtu the army of Egypt and the army of Assyria went after the **king of Akkad** as far as Gablini but they did not overtake the king of Babylonia. So they withdrew. In the month Addaru the army of Assyria and the army of Akkad did battle against one another at Madanu, a suburb of Arraphu, and the army of Assyria retreated before the army of Akkad. The army of Babylonia inflicted a major defeat upon the Assyrian army and drove them back to the Zab river. They captured their chariots and horses and plundered them extensively. They took many […] with them across the Tigris and brought them into Babylon.

The eleventh year: The **king of Akkad** mustered his army, marched along the bank of the Tigris, and in the month Ajaru he encamped against Aššur. On the […] day of the month Simanu he did battle against the city but he did not capture it. The king of Assyria mustered his army, pushed the **king of Akkad** back from Aššur and marched after him as far as Takrita'in, a city on the bank of the Tigris. The **king of Akkad** stationed his army in the fortress of Takrita'in. The king of Assyria and his army encamped against the army of the **king of Akkad**, which was stationed in Takrita'in, and did battle against them for ten days. But the king of Assyria did not capture the city. Instead, the army of the **king of Akkad**, which had been stationed in the fortress, inflicted a major defeat upon Assyria. The king of Assyria and his army turned and went home. In the month Arahsamna the Medes went down to Arraphu and […].

The twelfth year: In the month Âbu the Medes, after they had matched against Nineveh […], hastened and they captured Tarbisu, a city in the district of Nineveh. They went along the Tigris and encamped against Aššur. They did battle against the city and destroyed it. They inflicted a terrible defeat upon a great people, plundered and sacked them. The **king of Akkad** and his army, who had gone to help the Medes, did not reach the battle in time. The city was taken. The **king of Akkad** and Cyaxares met one another by the city and together they made an entente cordiale. Later, Cyaxares and his army went home. The **king of Akkad** and his army went home.

The thirteenth year: In the month Ajaru the Suheans rebelled against the **king of Akkad** and became belligerent. The **king of Akkad** mustered his army and marched to Suhu. On the fourth day of the month Simanu he did battle against Rahi-ilu, a city which is on an island in the middle of the Euphrates and at that time he captured the city. He built his […] The men who live on the bank of the Euphrates came down to him. […] he encamped against Anati and the siege engines he brought over from the western side […] he brought the siege engines up to the wall. He did battle against the city and captured it. The king of Assyria and his army came down and the **king of Akkad** and his army went home.

The fourteenth year: The **king of Akkad** mustered his army and marched to Assyria. The king of the Medes marched towards the **king of Akkad** and they met one another at [...]-u. The **king of Akkad** and his army crossed the Tigris; Cyaxares had to cross the Radanu, and they marched along the bank of the Tigris. In the month Simanu, the Nth day, they encamped against Nineveh. From the month Simanu until the month Âbu - for three months - they subjected the city to a heavy siege. On the Nth day of the month Âbu they inflicted a major defeat upon a great people. At that time Sin-šar-iškun, king of Assyria, died. They carried off the vast booty of the city and the temple and turned the city into a ruin heap. The […]of Assyria escaped from the enemy and, to safe his life, seized the feet of the **king of Akkad**. On the twentieth day of the month Ulûlu Cyaxares and his army went home. After he had gone, the **king of Akkad** dispatched his army and they marched to Nasibina. Plunder and exiles […] and they brought the people of Rusapu to the **king of Akkad** at Nineveh. On the […] of the month […] Aššur-uballit ascended to the throne in Harran to rule Assyria. Up until the […] day of the month […] the **king of Akkad** set out and in […]

The fifteenth year: In the month Du'ûzu the **king of Akkad** mustered his army and marched to Assyria victoriously. He marched about of […] and Šu[…], plundered it and carried of its vast booty. In the month Arahsamna the **king of Akkad** took the lead of his army personally and marched against Ruggulitu. He did battle against the city and on the twenty-eighth day of the month Arahsamnu he captured it. He did not leave a single man alive. […] He went home.

The sixteenth year: In the month Ajaru the **king of Akkad** mustered his army and marched to Assyria. From the month Simanu until the month Arahsamna he marched about victoriously in Assyria. In the month Arahsamna the Medes, who had come to the help of the **king of Akkad**, put their armies together and marched to Harran against Aššur-uballit, who had ascended the throne in Assyria. Fear of the enemy overcame Aššur-uballit and the army of Egypt that had come to help him, and they abandoned the city, and crossed the Euphrates. The **king of Akkad** reached Harran, fought a battle, and captured the city. He carried off the vast booty of the city and the temple. In the month Addaru the **king of Akkad** left his troops and their camp, and went home. The Medes, who had come to help the **king of Akkad**, withdrew.

The seventeenth year: In the month Du'ûzu Aššur-uballit, king of Assyria, with a large army from Egypt crossed the river Euphrates and marched against Harran to conquer it. They captured […]. They defeated the garrison which the **king of Akkad** had stationed inside. When they had defeated it they encamped against Harran. Until the month Ulûlu they did battle against the city but achieved nothing. The **king of Akkad** went to help his army but did not join battle. He he went up to Izalla and the numerous cities in the mountains […] he set fire to their […] At that time the army of […] march as far as the district of Urartu. In the land […] they plundered their […] The garrison which the king of […] had stationed in it set out. They went up to […]. The **king of Akkad** went home.

In the eighteenth year: In the month Ulûlu the **king of Akkad** mustered his army and […].

Let the one who loves Nabû and Marduk keep this tablet and not let it stray into other hands.

##### From the ABC 4 chronicle (late years of Nabopolassar)

The eighteenth year of **Nabopolassar**: In the month Ulûlu the **king of Akkad** mustered his army and following the bank of the Tigris to the mountains of Bit-Hanunya in the district of Urartu, he went up. He set fire to the cities and plundered them extensively. In the month Tebêtu the **king of Akkad** went home.

The nineteenth year: In the month Simanu the **king of Akkad** mustered his army and Nebuchadnezzar, his eldest son, the crown prince, mustered his army. They marched to the mountains of Za[...]. The **king of Akkad** left the prince and his army there while he returned to Babylon in the month of Du'ûzu. After his departure, Nebuchadnezzar did battle at Biranati, situated in the mountains, captured Biranati, set it on fire, and took many prisoners. He conquered all of the mountains as far as the district of Urartu. In the month Ulûlu the prince returned to Babylon. In the month Tašrîtu the **king of Akkad** mustered his army and marched to Kimuhu, which is on the bank of the Euphrates. He crossed the river, did battle against the city, and in the month Kislîmu he captured the city. He sacked it and stationed a garrison of his in it. In the month Šabatu he went home.

The twentieth year: The army of Egypt marched against the garrison of Kimuhu which the **king of Akkad** had stationed inside. For four months, they laid siege to the city, captured it, and defeated the garrison of the **king of Akkad**. In the month Tašrîtu, the **king of Akkad** mustered his army, marched along the bank of the Euphrates, and pitched camp in Quramatu, which is on the bank of the Euphrates. He had his army cross the Euphrates and they captured Šunadiri, Elammu, and Dahammu, cities of Syria, and plundered them. In the month Šabatu the **king of Akkad** went home. The army of Egypt, which was in Karchemiš, crossed the Euphrates and against the army of Akkad, which was camped in Quramatu, it marched. They pushed the army of Akkad back so that they withdrew.

The twenty-first year: The **king of Akkad** stayed home while Nebuchadnezzar, his eldest son and crown prince, mustered the army of Akkad.

It cuts off here.

##### From the Ptolemaic Canon

The Ptolemaic Canon calls him **Nabopolassáros** and says he ruled from 626 - 605 BC.

##### From Eusebius quoting from Alexander Polyhistor quoting from the same Berossus

**Busalossorus**, whom Alexander Polyhistor calls **Sardanapallus**, sent to Astyages the Satrap of Media, and demanded his daughter Amuïtes in marriage for his son Nabuchodonosor. He was the commander of the army of Saracus King of the Chaldæans, and, having been sent upon some expedition, turned his arms against Saracus and marched against the city of Ninus (Nineveh). But Saracus confounded by his advance set fire to his palace and burnt himself in it. And **Busalossorus** obtained the empire of the Chaldæans: he was the father of Nabuchodonosor.

##### From the same Josephus quoting from the same Berossus

[**Busalossorus**] sent his son Nabuchodonosor with a great army against Egypt, and against Judea, upon his being informed that they had revolted from him; and by that means he subdued them all, and set fire to the temple that was at Jerusalem; and removed our people entirely out of their own country, and transferred them to Babylon, and our city remained in a state of desolation during the interval of seventy years, until the days of Cyrus king of Persia. (He then says, that) this Babylonian king conquered Egypt, and Syria, and Phœnicia, and Arabia, and exceeded in his exploits all that had reigned before him in Babylon and Chaldæa.

When **Busalossorus** his (Nabuchodnosor's) father, heard that the governor, whom he had set over Egypt, and the provinces of Cœlesyria and Phœnicia, had revolted, he was determined to punish his delinquencies, and for that purpose entrusted part of his army to his son Nabuchodonosor, who was then of mature age, and sent him forth against the rebel: and Nabuchodonosor engaged and overcame him, and reduced the country again under his dominion. And it came to pass that his father, **Busalossorus**, was seised with a disorder which proved fatal, and he died in the city of Babylon, after he had reigned nine and twenty years.

## In the Book of Veles

According to the Book of Veles, Nabsur was a middle eastern king who rose up against the Slavs some time after they had conquered Babylon. Upon winning Babylon's independence, he enslaved the Slavs and forced them to do hard labor. Soon, however, a strong earthquake struck the land, and in the chaos, the Slavs were able to escape. The book does not say what happened to Nabsur afterwards.

###### From Plank 6 c

Т[о] се за яві замержеце а ста градоі градящете, хорсун а іна возденя. Русколане раздерена смутама ста творящеті на полуден, а борусе на полноще бя многа утрепѣні. А то б то породіце не хтяі, абоі руське родя соедна о русколане.

Про то же два віета тая іменоваше се велка і мала борусе. Не суренже се назва суренжка руса, а борусе. Пра боря тако бя тамо непра боре. А долга вржда мезе родя роздірашеті борусене на щесте. Тако борусен же не могша статі грьціом а скуфі на ступене - та бо бяшеті жлута. А русоі бяшеті русоі а медроочітіе, соілна. А не у навне пря ошед непрстане, а коліже на супренжене не бясте кнеженце соілна, або грьце даваяі - вразѣм - віщтче, яко нам?!

От оце Ореа а до Діру бяста тісянц пат сенто лятоі. Се це праце наше віеста медвена мече. Так убо твастере іма реще удіеляті железвена а брате комоне, яковже тещяша од бозе до ноі.

Тако бя русколане соілна а тврда. То бо то от Перуня, одержаще ноі, колі крате ізболокша меще а одрзана [бяша] врзі, одтрще я сва тере. Бо вутце за ореа рода славена і сілна, яковіже о сурі біяі аігѣпета а старе. На ті же щасе не імамехом еднаота, а бяхом ста яко воща безо Влеса. Тоі бо рекло ноі, яко імѣмо ходяті пшімо, негда же кріва, а того не слоухащехом ся.

То бо то праце убіряі велку щасте русоі, **Набсуру** потщена. Не стрежещенце се бо тая одо вразех, а тако налзе на ова а до мору звѣ та, ся ідша колніті, главе сва подо вразке біще. Та бо соілна вршті натеце на оботріе. А ті то ходяще іо говяде до заходу суре, а тамо се страті. Наше же ліудіе ідяще до поде **Набсур-сар**. А за тем то ідяще на суре агіпѣтесте.

###### English translation

And [we were then] united and began to build cities: Khorshun and others were envisioned. [But then] the Ruskolan was torn apart by turmoil, occurring every day, but the Borusians at night suffered a lot of damage [from civil strife(?)], for [their] patriarchs didn’t wish for the [Bo]rusians to join the Ruskolan.

Because of this [we split into] two branches, the Great Borusians and the Little Borusians. The Surendj was then not called the Surendjian Rus, but the Borus. Righteous warfare was then unrighteous warfare (that is, warfare which is just was considered unjust, and warfare which is unjust was considered just). And for a long time did the tribal warfare tear the Borusians to peices. Thus the Borusians could not become [influenced by(?)] the Greeks or Scythians on those yellow steppes. But the Russians (Ruskolani?) with their dove-eyed allies, remained strong. The endless war did not occur in Nav, but were there not any strong dukes amongst the Surodjites to defeat the Greek enemies, like to the others?

From Orey[-Ariant] until Dir there are fifteen hundred years (circa 618 if we count from Dir’s death). Look, our ancestors knew the honey-covered swords (alternatively translated as “they were like bears with swords”). Tvastir (Vedic god of craftsmanship, perhaps equivalent to Svarog) called to them, and told them to cast iron and to take horses which run to them from the gods.

Thus was the Ruskolan: strong and firm. This was because of Perun, who leads us. How many times did we take our our swords and our enemies were defeated, as we chased them back to their borders. For as long as the cheifs of the tribe of Orey were glorious and strong, so were everyone under the sun [like in] Egypt (meaning that even the sun seemed to be stronger when there were stronger kings), [this was] in the ancient days. [But] in these days we had no unity, and we were like sheep without Veles. He told us, that we must walk [the] straight [path], and never [on the] curved [path], but [alas] we did not listen.

[Therefore] now, the Persians (i.e. Babylonians and Medes) removed a large portion of Russians, and put them under **Nabsur**. For no sooner did they stopped sharpening [their weapons] against the enemies that they (the enemies) lept forth and slayed an entire ocean of them. And they came in surrender, [they] bowed their heads before the enemies’ beatings. Our powerful enemies fell upon all three [of them] (unknown what they are referring to, possibly the Russians of the Ruskalani, Borusians, and Surodjites, or alternatively the Persians, Nabsur, and the Russians of the Ruskalani). They, however, left to the place where Surya (the Sun) sets, and disappeared. But our people, meanwhile, were under **Nabsur** the king. [But] after this we [will] go to Egypt’s Sun.

###### From Plank 6 d

Длуга бяше те дятоі одерене трвате се. А тако прешеде ден, я русоі тецеша одо **Набсу[р]-сару** - парце бо не текоща за не - а тако оідяі до краіе нашех. А тамо бо сленша пѣснеща наша до Інтру а вола, на се боіхом стале вѣроваще. Бяхом ста со бзех нашех, а до све бзе не нуте наше. От се едіне смехомо і, та носяще, те імяхом, а ніколе сме назоівате інакожде, яко езеце.

Колі бо одерень баблуску терпяі, а кнзем іх бя ту **Набсур-сар**, ки бо іхва подчіняшет. А тѣ сва іуна даяі до вое а тягендло. До чурсоі а чресл, на ланіта утерпѣніе імаі, а тоі бія кіем. І то терпя не могостехом тако.

А не можахом, а рцемо іма, же ста не імамоі до средьця наша. Яко в теі день, колі бяшет велка трясева а земевртень, а оврзе сѣх обоісва до сврзе, тамо комоньве а волоі метяще ся а врще. І заберехом све стадоі а вержехом ся до полуноще а упасехом душоі наша.

А тако бзема храненсте будева, а ніже с по цено трацемо соіні сва а све дщере, а тако женоі. А будехом просте сва уже і свастехом. А не бяхом сметентоі, еже ідша на челе рате о одерень се доть ве све, а ходяхом бо ніже псіе. Потоміце сме славуне, а грді сме боіті можашем, а не брежехом ества.

То бо Магура спѣсне сва до сѣще. А тая птоіца од Інтра іде, бо Нітро бя пребенде до вѣк само, кіе да Паруне все бране, абоісте тоіе да вржешет іу, да прібде Ярове до лунче. А лѣпе імемо сен согмізете, ніколі бо сва боіті одереньце а жряті бозем іхва.

###### English translation

Long did those years last. But there came a day, when the Rus ran from **Nabsur** the king, and the Persians (I.e. Babylonians and Medes) did not pursue after them [which was how the Rus] left to our lands. This is where they heard the songs of our great Indra, in whom we strongly believe. Both of us were then with the gods, and our gods never let us down. They (the gods) were why we were united, we carried [their idols], we worshipped them (lit: “we had them”), and we will never call them anything else, as the other [nations] do (lit: “how the *tongues* do”)

When we had endured the heavy labor of Babylon, and the prince was still **Nabsur** the king, who had subdued us, from hour(?) to hour, we endured beatings on our faces, and they were covered in tears. But this we could not endure anymore.

And we would never have been able to [endure it], and we say, that our hearts cannot handle this. Then came that day, when there was a great earthquake and a hurricane (lit: earth-spinning, alternatively could be another word for earthquake), and our enemies were scattered everywhere even until Svarga, and there the horses neighed and made noise. [Quickly], we gathered our cattle and we ran until midnight, and saved our souls.

And thus shall you also be protected by the gods, but otherwise you will lose your sons and daughters and your wives needlessly. We will finally be our own (i.e. independent) and we will live favorably. And we will never be put down, we who live [as(?)] a full army, and we will never be sold into slavery, and we will never be treated as dogs. We are of the tribe of the Slavs, and we [all] can become heroes, but we do not draw attention [to this].

Now Magura songs to us. And that bird [who flew to us] from Indra [flew] away, for Indra was and will always be Indra, [he] who gives Perun his armor, so that he would protect everyone, so Yarillo (i.e. spring) can arrive to our *лунче* (this word is untranslated, even in the Russian versions, but it could mean something like “moon” or “better [place]”). And it would be better for us to disappear than to consent to being slaves and to cease giving sacrifices to our gods.

#### Identifications

##### As Nabonasar

Generally, it is easier to identify Nabsur with Nabonasar due to the scarcity of information concerning Nabonasar’s early rule. The greater story of Nabsur, therefore, fits quite neatly with what we have of the reign of Nabonasar. Apart from that, the similarity of their names and the fact that they both deposed foreign usurpers makes this identification seem reasonable. This identification also implies that Nabû-šuma-iškun, the foreign usurper who Nabonasar deposed, was a Slavic king (or instated as a king by Slavs). The book says that Orey lived circa the 620s BC, but doesn’t say how many years there are between Nabsur and Orey-Ariant.

##### As Nabopolassar

This is the more popular identification, being present in both Asov’s and Slatin’s translations of the Book of Veles. The reason for this is that their names are similar, they both fought against the Assyrians and Egypt, in Nabopolassar’s reign the Scythians, led by king Madava son of Bartutaua, invaded the nations of the Medes and Assyrians and also the timelines adds up. According to Slatin, “Nabopolassar” can have a Slavic meaning, as if you divide it into its syllables “Nabo-pola-sar” it means “Nabo the half-king”. He doesn’t say that the name is Slavic per se, but that it fits strangely into a Slavic etymology.

##### As the greater “Nabu Dynasty”

According to some, the name “Nabsur” is referring not to an individual but to the actual dynasty of Nabu, specifically Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar II.