Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II (reigned 605-562 bc), greatest king of the neo-Babylonian, or Chaldean, dynasty, who conquered much of south-western Asia Minor; known also for his extensive building in the major cities of Babylonia.

The eldest son of Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar commanded a Babylonian army late in his father's reign and in 605 bc triumphed over Egyptian forces at the decisive Battle of Carchemish in Syria, which made Babylonia the primary military power in the Middle East. After his father's death, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon and ascended the throne on September 7, 605 bc. During the next eight years he campaigned extensively in the west against Syria, Palestine, and Egypt and against the Arabs. On March 16, 597 bc, he captured Jerusalem and took Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and many of his people captive to Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar subsequently faced major revolts in Babylonia (594 bc) and in Judah (588-587 bc), which he vigorously suppressed and, as a result of which, many more Jews were exiled to Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar also conducted a 13-year siege of the Phoenician city of Tyre and launched an invasion of Egypt in 568 bc. During the latter part of his reign, as the empire of the Media increased in power to the north and east, Nebuchadnezzar built a wall, known as the Median Wall, in northern Babylonia to keep out the Medes.

Nebuchadnezzar's conquests brought in much booty and tribute, creating a period of prosperity in Babylonia. He undertook an ambitious construction programme, rebuilding the temples in the major religious centres and refurbishing the capital at Babylon with the splendid ziggurat (pyramid temple) of Etemenanki as well as other shrines, palaces, fortification walls, and processional ways. Later legend credited him with building one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, for his Median wife Amyitis. Nebuchadnezzar died in early October 562 bc and was succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk (the biblical Evil-Merodach).