Hassum


Hassum was a Hurrian city-state, located in southern Turkey most probably on the Euphrates river north of Carchemish.

History

The city was a vassal to Ebla, it was mentioned in the Tablets of Ebla as Hazuwan, and was governed by its own king. it came under the influence of Mari for a short period of time in the 24th century BC, before Irkab-Damu of Ebla regained influence over the area, the city survived the Akkadians conquests in 2240 BC and flourished as a trade center in the first half of the 2nd millennia BC.
In the beginning of 18th century BC, Hassum allied with Yamhad against Yahdun-Lim of Mari, it later helped Yamhad against a kingdom in Zalmakum, but then shifted alliance to Shamshi-Adad I of Assyria after he annexed Mari and sent him a 1000 troops to attack Sumu-Epuh of Yamhad. later, Yarim-Lim I of Yamhad brought Hassum under his hegemony, the city remained subjugated to Yamhad until the Hittite conquest.

Hittite Conquest

In the course of his war against Yamhad, Hattusili I of the Hittites, having destroyed Alalakh and Urshu, headed toward Hassum in his sixth year, Yarim-Lim III of Yamhad sent his army under the leadership of General Zukrassi the heavy-armed troops leader accompanied by General Zaludis the commander of the Manda troops, they united with the army of Hashshum, then the battle of Atalur mountain ensued, Hattusili destroyed his enemies and moved on to burn and loot Hassum. The citizens rallied their forces three times against the Hittites, but Hattusili sacked the city and seized the statuses of the god Teshub, his wife Hebat and a pair of silver bulls that were the bulls of Teshub, and carried them to Hattusa, where they were kept in the temple of Arinna.
The king of Hassum was captured and humiliated, he was harnessed to one of the wagons used to transport the loots of his city and taken to the Hittite capital. a century later, Hittite king Telipinu mentions Hassum as his chief enemy and his destruction of the city.

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