Samsu-iluna

Samsu-iluna (Amorite: Samsu-iluna or Samsu-ilūna, "The Sun (is) our god") (–1712 BC) was the seventh king of the founding Amorite dynasty of Babylon. His reign is estimated from 1749 BC to 1712 BC (middle chronology), or from 1686 to 1648 BC (short chronology). He was the son and successor of Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 BC) by an unknown mother. His reign was marked by the violent uprisings of areas conquered by his father and the abandonment of several important cities primarily in Sumer. A number of letters sent by Samsu-iluna have been found of which 20 have been published. One is addressed to Abban the king of Aleppo. No received letters have been found due to the modern high water table at Babylon.

==Circumstances of Samsu-iluna's reign== When Hammurabi rose to power in the city of Babylon, he controlled a small region directly around that city, and was surrounded by vastly more powerful opponents on all sides. By the time he died, he had conquered Sumer, Eshnunna, Assyria and Mari making himself master of Mesopotamia. He had also significantly weakened and humiliated Elam and the