Battle of Qarqar
Kurkh stela of Shalmaneser that reports battle of Karkar, of en:853 BC.
Historical Overview
The Battle of Qarqar was fought in 853 BC when the army of the Neo-Assyrian Empire led by Emperor Shalmaneser III encountered an allied army of eleven kings at Qarqar led by Hadadezer, called in Assyrian Adad-idir and possibly to be identified with King Benhadad II of Aram-Damascus; and Ahab, king of Israel. This battle, fought during the 854–846 BC Assyrian conquest of Aram, is notable for having a larger number of combatants than any previous battle, and for being the first instance in which some peoples enter recorded history, such as the Arabs. The battle is recorded on the Kurkh Monoliths. Using a different rescension of the Assyrian Eponym List would put the battle's date at 854 BC.
Quick Facts
Neo-Assyrian Empire
- Commander: Salmanassar III.
- Strength: ca. 35.000 Infanterie, 2.000 Streitwagen
- Casualties: Hoch
Alliance of 12 Kings
- Commander: Hadadeser / Ahab
- Strength: ca. 40.000 Infanterie, 3.900 Streitwagen
- Casualties: Hoch
Strategic Context
Attempt by Syrian-Palestinian small states to stop the Assyrian advance to the Mediterranean through a united front.
Conflict / War
Neo-Assyrian Expansion
Related Literature
Das alte Ägypten: Die visuelle Geschichte. Hochwertiger Bildband mit 850 Fotos, 3D-Illustrationen, Karten und Zeitleisten
Deutschland in der Bronzezeit. Bauern, Bronzegiesser und Burgherren zwischen Nordsee und Alpen
Historical Locations
Interactive map requires third-party cookie consent.