Erishum I orErišum II, the son and successor ofNaram-Sin, was the king of the city-stateAssur fromc. 1828/1818 BC to 1809 BC.[1] Like his predecessors, he bore the titles “Išši’ak Aššur” (Steward of Assur) and “ensí”.[2] The length of Erishum II's reign is uncertain, however; based on various excavated "limmu" (eponym) lists, Naram-Sin's and Erishum II's reigns had a combined length of 64 years.[3]: 29
TheAmorites had in the centuries prior overrun the kingdoms ofLower Mesopotamia and theLevant between, but had hitherto been repelled by the Assyrian kings. However, Erishum II was to be the last king of the dynasty ofPuzur-Ashur I (founded c. 2025 BC) as he was deposed and the throne of Assyria was usurped byShamshi-Adad I during the expansion of the Amorite tribes from theKhabur River delta in the north-eastern Levant. Although regarded as an Amorite by later Assyrian tradition, Shamshi-Adad I's descent is suggested to be from the same line as the legendary nativeAssyrian rulerUshpia within the Assyrian King List, possibly added to the list in order to legitimize his rule. Shamshi-Adad I had inherited the throne inTerqa from his fatherIla-kabkabu. The Assyrian King List records that Shamshi-Adad I, “went away toBabylonia in the time of Naram-Sin” whileNaram-Sin ofEshnunna had been attackingEkallatum. Shamshi-Adad I had not returned until he had taken Ekallatum, after which he had paused for three years and then had overthrown Erishum II.[4] The Mari Eponym Chronicle, which resumes the listing until the seizure of Ekallatum by Shamshi-Adad I, provides no clue as to when the succession of Erishum II had taken place. As the reign of Erishum II was prematurely ended by the conquests of Shamshi-Adad I, it is likely that Naram-Sin's reign was the greater part of the period, additionally; the broken figure on the Nassouhi King List ends on four, so perhaps Naram-Sin reigned 44 or 54 years (c. 1872 BC onward,middle chronology.)[5]: 45
| Preceded by | Išši’ak Aššur 1828/1818–1809 BC | Succeeded by |