His father, Esarhaddon, the youngest son of Sennacherib, had become heir when the crown prince, Ashur-nadin-shumi, was deposed by rebels from his position as a vassal for Babylon.
Babai i tij, Esarhaddoni, djali më i ri i Senakeribit, ishte bërë trashëgimtari kur princi i kurorës, Ashuri-nadin-shumi, u rrëzua nga rebelët nga pozita e tij si vasal i Babilonisë.