Shalmaneser V

Who was Shalmaneser V?

Shalmaneser V was king of Assyria from 727 to 722 BC. He first appears as governor of Zimirra in Phoenicia in the reign of his father, Tiglath-Pileser III.

On the death of Tiglath-Pileser, he succeeded to the throne of Assyria on the 25th day of Tebet 727 BC, and changed his original name of Ululayu to "Shalmaneser". While it has been suggested that he continued to use Ululayu for his throne name as king of Babylonia, this has not been found in any authentic official sources. The revolt of Samaria took place during his reign, and while he was besieging the rebel city, he died on the 12th of Tebet 722 BC and the crown was seized by his brother Sargon II. According to the Bible, King of Israel Hoshea was captured in the 9th year of his reign after conspiring against Shalmaneser V by sending messages to Piye, king of Egypt. The Egyptians attempted to gain a foothold in the Near East by entering the region and stirring up Assyria's vassal Israelite, Judaean, Philistine, Canaanite and Samaritan subjects against Assyria, but were defeated and driven out by Shalmaneser V.