Yahdun-Lim

Mari

Euphrates • Terqa • Tuttul Royal Palace

Kings

Yaggid-Lim • Yahdun-Lim Yasmah-Adad Zimri-Lim (Queen Shibtu)

Archaeology

Investiture of Zimri-Lim Statue of Ebih-Il Statue of Iddi-Ilum

Yahdunlim (or Yakhdunlim) was the name of two different kings in Upper Mesopotamia: one of Mari during the 19th century BC and one of Karkemish during the 18th century BC. The former, of Amorite origin, became king after the death of his father Iagitlim. Yahdunlim built Mari up to become one of the major powers of the region. He led a successful campaign to the coast of the Mediterranean. His kingdom was threatened by incursions from various nomad tribes, such as the Canaanites, but he was able to subjugate them and force them to pay tribute. After having established internal peace, he built a temple to the god Shamash.

Elsewhere, Shamshi-Adad I had made himself King of Assyria, and Yahdunlim received pleas for help from kings threatened by Shamshi-Adad's expansionist plans. But before Yahdunlim could move against Shamshi-Adad, he was assassinated by his own servants. In the chaos that followed, Shamshi-Adad occupied Mari. Zimrilim, Iakhdunlim's son and heir, was forced to flee to Aleppo, where he would remain as an exile until Shamshi-Adad's death.