The ancient Armenian Kingdom of Van, also referred to as Urartu or the Ararat Kingdom, was a beacon of resilience and innovation in a tumultuous era. Spanning across the 8th to 7th centuries BC, it witnessed significant military and cultural challenges, yet managed to leave an enduring legacy.
The Assyrian Invasions and the Fall of Tushpa
In 743 BC, the formidable Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III launched an invasion of the Kingdom of Van, leaving destruction in his wake. His forces advanced from west to east, plundering settlements and besieging the capital, Tushpa. Despite the siege, the city’s fortifications proved too strong to breach, forcing Tiglath-Pileser III to devastate the surrounding area and retreat to Assyria.
The invasion, however, dealt a severe blow to the Kingdom of Van. Yet, under the leadership of King Rusa I, the successor to Sarduri II, the kingdom initiated a remarkable recovery. Rusa I demonstrated resilience by establishing a new capital, Rusakhinili, to replace the ravaged Tushpa, laying the foundation for the kingdom’s revival.
Rusa I’s Campaigns and Fortifications
King Rusa I ushered in a period of reconstruction, bolstering the kingdom’s defenses with fortresses along the shores of Lake Sevan. His military campaigns extended the kingdom’s reach eastward, conquering 19 territories near the confluence of the Araks and Kura rivers. These efforts underscored the determination of the Kingdom of Van to restore its former glory.
However, Rusa I’s successes were short-lived. In 714 BC, the Assyrian king Sargon II invaded the Kingdom of Van, wreaking havoc through its central regions. Villages were razed, gardens destroyed, and livelihoods dismantled. The campaign culminated in the plunder of Musasir, including the desecration of the sacred temple dedicated to the god Khaldi. This event marked the final confrontation between the Kingdom of Van and Assyria.
A New Era of Threats and Alliances
Following Sargon II’s invasion, hostilities between Assyria and the Kingdom of Van ceased, but new challenges emerged. The incursion of the nomadic Cimmerians from the Caucasus Mountains posed a dire threat to both Assyria and the Kingdom of Van. This mutual enemy necessitated an uneasy cooperation between the two erstwhile adversaries.
The kings of Van successfully halted the southern advance of the Cimmerians, who eventually settled westward in Cappadocia, known as Gamirk in Armenian tradition. From this new base, the Cimmerians turned their aggression towards Assyria, further complicating the region’s dynamics.
As the 7th century BC progressed, the Cimmerians were replaced by another formidable adversary—the Scythians, whose numerous and warlike tribes added to the complexity of the Kingdom of Van’s survival
