caption father predecessor successor title image article_title name reign
ashurnasirpal ii , with akkadian cuneiform inscription tukulti-ninurta ii tukulti-ninurta ii shalmaneser iii assyrian ashurnasirpal2 stele.jpg ashurnasirpal ii
 ashurnasirpal ii 883 - 859 bc
ashurnasirpal ii

ashur-nasir-pal ii -lrb- transliteration : `` aššur-nāṣir-apli '' , meaning `` ashur is guardian of the heir '' -rrb- was king of assyria from 883 to 859 bc .
ashurnasirpal ii succeeded his father , tukulti-ninurta ii , in 883 bc .
during his reign he embarked on a vast program of expansion , first conquering the peoples to the north in asia minor as far as nairi and exacting tribute from phrygia , then invading aram -lrb- modern syria -rrb- conquering the aramaeans and neo hittites between the khabur and the euphrates rivers .
his harshness prompted a revolt that he crushed decisively in a pitched , two-day battle .
according to his monument inscription , while recalling this massacre he says `` their men young and old i took prisoners .
of some i cut off their feet and hands ; of others i cut off the ears noses and lips ; of the young men 's ears i made a heap ; of the old men 's heads i made a minaret .
i exposed their heads as a trophy in front of their city .
the male children and the female children i burned in flames ; the city i destroyed , and consumed with fire '' .
following this victory , he advanced without opposition as far as the mediterranean and exacted tribute from phoenicia .
on his return home , he moved his capital to the city of kalhu -lrb- nimrud -rrb- .
