Chapter 11: Disturbances

c. 2128 BC

A caravan made its way eastward, returning from the far-off shores of the western sea to the banks of the Tigris and the Euphrates. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary with this trading caravan. However, if one looked closer, cracks in the façade could be found. The donkeys were exhausted, driven for days on end without stop. The supply carts were nearly empty, as if the merchants had made no time to resupply when they passed towns. The men themselves moved with a certain urgency; something had them on a knife's edge. Two of them in particular carried themselves with a degree of haste and worry; never sleeping, always awake. The first was Akkad, and his comrade was Ur.

"How much longer until we reach the center of the empire?" Akkad demanded, motioning for Ur to follow him into town for a short resupply trip with a few of the men. Ur quickly fell into line, marking down items that needed to be replaced. It may have been decades since he last had to manage his own city, but he had never lost his administrative flair.

"A few days now," he replied, "We're in Ashur, so the paths from here on in will be better-travelled and in superior condition." Akkad nodded, mind already elsewhere.

"And what did that report say again?" he asked, now for the sixth time that day. Ur huffed in annoyance and sympathy. Akkad had been so concerned over the state of his empire for the past few days that he hadn't slept, and yet he still couldn't take his mind off of it. The man may have killed to achieve his ambitions, but as he struggled to maintain them Ur was seeing a different side of him. Akkad could be sympathetic and caring when he wanted to. On the way here, at every city, Akkad had made short stops to meet with the governors of each one. At first Ur had assumed it to be a simple status update; to make sure none of them were considering revolt. However, when he had slipped into one of these visits, he had overheard Akkad asking about the state of the populace: if they were well-fed, content, and unworried. Additionally, instead of sharply rebuking Ur for eavesdropping on state affairs (as was per usual), Akkad simply took Ur aside and explained to him what needed to be done in the city to ensure stability. This was surprising and welcome change of attitude from how Akkad had been during the campaigns of Sargon and Naram-Sin. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Ur realized he still had a question to answer. Even after repeating it for the sixth time, the answer continued to bemuse him.

"Four kings have been declared in your city, my friend," he replied, "a sure sign of instability and portent of insurrection." Akkad mumbled under his breath, going over the news. It had come suddenly, and out of nowhere. Naram-Sin's son, Shar-kali-sharri, had been ruling competently for some years now, but had suddenly died and left behind him a state of affairs that rapidly descended into chaos. Who was king? Nobody knew nor seemed to care. Power hungry nobles were grabbing for the crown, and it seemed Akkad's hard-won empire was prepared to unravel in an instant. There were rumblings of rebellion. Ur had heard rumors of trouble in Uruk and Lagash, and frankly he wasn't surprised. Leave it to his brother to come out of the blue and completely disrupt the status quo. A few years ago, he would've have been jubilant to hear such news. Now, however, he wasn't so sure. After months of travelling around with Akkad to secure the frontiers of his empire, Ur had seen something that he had never laid witness to during the days of Kish and Ebla: peace. Sure, there would be the occasional rebellious outbreak from time to time, but overall Akkad kept an bronze-grip on his empire. People no longer spent their days fighting for the independence of their cities against a briefly dominant warlord, or worrying about surviving through the next cycle of the Kingship. Akkad may have violently brought an end to the old ways, but in doing so he had created a new kind of order, one that seemed almost rejuvenating to the war-torn land between two rivers. Ur contemplated this as he gathered some bags of grain to bring back from the caravan. Akkad stood beside him, finishing a transaction with the farmer who had provided them. To Ur's surprise, he struck up a conversation.

"I suppose it must please you to think that your siblings may finally gain their independence from my empire." he remarked as they walked back towards the caravan, "You always have had a particular soft spot when it comes to that." Ur looked at his compatriot warily, suspecting this was some sort of bait. However, Akkad had been treating him well the past few days. He responded with honesty.

"I suppose I am," he said, "my siblings had their freedom and family wrested from them without so much as a warning. I feel like they deserve some semblance of freedom after all of that. After all that was taken from them, my brothers should be able to do as they please." As the two set down their supplies in the caravan, Akkad looked over at Ur with a measure of shock. He laughed a little, then adopted a weary smile.

"I thought I had finally won you over," he joked, "yet here I find you still blinded to my true vision by your love for your brothers." Ur laughed nervously in return, and Akkad grabbed his shoulder and looked into his eyes.

"Follow me back into the city, Ur." he said, obviously unwilling to take no for an answer, "There is something we must discuss." Ur obliged, and the duo made their way back into Ashur's central square. People bustled around them, and shops began to close up for the night as the sun set, painting the stone buildings a rusty red. Akkad surveyed the scene, and then turned to look at Ur.

"What do you see?" he asked, and Ur took a moment to answer.

"People," he finally replied, "who are going about their daily lives." Akkad chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"Ah, but I see more here, Ur." he explained, "I see subjects. Not just people, but members of my empire. People who I rule and therefore am charged to provide for. I must manage their taxes, their infrastructure, and their livelihoods. They in return remain obedient to my government, and support me in the forms of armies and a labor force. Without them, I am nothing. Yet, without me, their lives would fall apart. It is a strange and convoluted system, but a beautiful one, don't you agree?"

"I suppose I do." Ur responded, taken aback by the sudden philosophical turn this conversation had taken.

"Now, Ur, tell me what your brothers would do if they ever gained their independence?" Akkad inquired, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"They would seek to kill you and tear away your system, return things to the old ways." Ur responded immediately, "What are you getting at?" Akkad looked back over the city; the tide of people was beginning to ebb as the sun lowered further in the sky.

"Yes, they would destroy all I have created." he mused, "They would go back to warring amongst each other. The people of this city would no longer have a strong central government to rely on. They would be forced into wars against their neighbors, and the strength of their city would be sapped until they were barely scraping by. Did you know, Ur, that before I rose to power Ashur was a pathetic settlement of little importance? Under my empire, it has grown into a massive administrative center and is probably the most important city in this region. I've brought prosperity and peace to Sumer; what about that warrants destruction?" Ur looked back on Akkad, confused at his superior's question.

"You killed nations for this empire, Akkad." he retorted, "For peace, you engaged in the most devastating war this region has ever seen. Uruk would argue that alone warrants your destruction." Akkad nodded.

"I don't doubt you on that." he agreed, "However, you think differently, don't you?" There was silence for a moment.

"The empire you have created has brought much change to Sumer," Ur finally replied, "a lot of it positive. However, you are a murderer, Akkad. You may very well deserve to die."

"But I am the empire, Ur." Akkad argued, "My death sends the lives of these people into chaos. This system, this bureaucracy, it surpasses the boundaries of right and wrong. I may have killed Kish and Ebla, but in their place, I have established something better. If they had lived, they would have surely opposed this. They were blind, like Uruk and Lagash are."

"Are you saying their deaths were justified?" Ur asked incredulously.

"Were they not?" Akkad demanded, "I placed the welfare of Mesopotamia over the needs of a few choice city-states. When you fight for a cause as righteous as mine, Ur, your enemies must die. Kish may have meant well, but he only would've prolonged the suffering of our land. Think about it, my friend. You know I am right." With that Akkad made his way back to the caravan, preparing to leave. Ur followed him, but a measured distance behind. Akkad's remarks had disturbed him, unsettled him even. However, in the back of his mind he couldn't deny that nagging voice that said the empire had been right.

"Are you ready, brother?" Uruk asked, fastening his sword to his belt. His hair was braided immaculately, and his scruffy beard neatly groomed. His bronze eyes gleamed as bright as his sword as he looked upon Lagash, who smiled brightly in return. The younger nation's arm still lay in a sling, but his hair had also been trimmed. He was clean-shaven, and his hair was short and scruffy as it had been during the glory days of the Kingship. He hefted a shield on his uninjured limb.

"As ready as I'll ever be." he replied, "With four kings ruling in Akkad, now is the best time to reclaim our cities." Uruk nodded, surveying the men he had gathered in a secluded location near the center of Lagash's city. Uruk already had his back, having declared a Fourth Dynasty in opposition to Akkadian rule. Now it was just time to reclaim his brothers. However, the city was well-fortified and stocked with Akkadian troops. The battle would be hard-fought, and as much as Lagash had recovered, Uruk knew he would not be able to take a defeat. They were determined to win, no matter the odds. Together they made their way towards the exit that would let them out right on top of the Akkadian garrisons. They waited patiently.

"Now!" proclaimed one of Lagash's generals, and the force streamed out and onto the streets. The battle intensified immediately, as Akkad's men desperately sought to stave off the freedom fighters. Uruk struck down man after man, losing Lagash in the din of the fighting. He took a few seconds to look around, but was quickly sidetracked by a spear-wielding Akkadian soldier. The battle continued on for hours, fighting progressing through the streets of the city. A few times Uruk thought he saw Lagash, but always his attention was diverted by another threat. The battle raged on, the garrison regrouping and pushing Uruk's forces back. They retreated into the back-alleys, but held out. Then, suddenly, a furious war cry came from down the street. Uruk turned, and finally found Lagash. Blade raised high in the air, the nation charged the Akkadian force with a few of his own men from the flank and butchered all in his path. The Akkadian line broke, and with each inch of ground they gained Uruk could see his brother growing stronger. By the afternoon, the Akkadians were in full retreat, running from the city. Lagash stood triumphantly at the gate, sling removed and armor stained with blood.

"Stay out!" he declared, "The Second Dynasty of Lagash has begun!" he turned to look at Uruk, who smiled widely in response. Lagash was back, and now they would take the fight to Akkad.

Ur walked briskly through the streets of his city, approaching the central complex. The four kings had only ruled for four years, and King Shu-Durul had briefly brought stability back to the empire. However, there were resurgent dynasties in Uruk and Lagash now, just as Ur and Akkad had predicted so long ago. Now the rumor was that the Elamites were seeking to rebel as well, and that the short-lived stability would be crushed before it even got a chance to establish itself. Bursting into the complex, Ur made his way to an antechamber he considered his office. No Akkadian soldiers staffed the hallways, they had all been recalled to Akkad in the past few months. Akkad himself had become gaunt and ragged, his shoulder length hair allowed to grow down to his upper back and the beginnings of a beard growing on his face. His eyes had become dull and lifeless, and wrinkles dominated his face from the stress of maintaining a failing empire. However, he still carried with him an air of strength, as if he was daring anyone to assume he was weak. He'd been concerned with barbarian raids on the empire's northeastern frontiers the last time Ur had spoken to him, but that was months ago. Now, Ur was on his own. He walked into his study, and was shocked to find someone there. Dressed in battle armor, eyes twinkling and a cocksure smile on his face, Uruk stood in the center of the room.

"Brother?!" Ur cried in shock, standing in the doorway. Uruk's smiled widened, and he rushed to embrace his sibling.

"Thank An!" he exclaimed, "I told Lagash you'd be here! It's been decades, Ur, how have you been?" They hugged for a few moments and then Uruk relinquished his grip, allowing Ur to respond.

"Akkad kept me around as a kind of secretary." he replied, "As the most prosperous city in the region, I suppose he thought I'd be useful." Uruk's smile turned into a frown, and he shook his fist.

"That damned conqueror," he growled, looking away for a moment before his gaze returned to his brother's face, "but fear not, brother, we've come to liberate you! We're going to slaughter that tyrant in his own city, end his empire and free Sumer from his grip. Join us! Together, you, Lagash and I will be unstoppable, I know it!" Ur contemplated his brother's proposal, bringing his hand to his chin and stroking his beard as a force of habit. As much as he would hate to admit it, he had missed his siblings dearly. He wanted to join them and bring Sumer back to the way things had always been. But, at the same time, Akkad's remarks planted just enough discourse in his mind to cause him to reconsider. What if, in avenging Kish, they just threw Sumer into turmoil? However, as he saw his brother's exuberant smile and hopeful eyes, Ur found himself lured into Uruk's camp. He may have made a good point, but that did not excuse Akkad's murder of his siblings, his old family. He turned and drew his old bronze sword from under a table.

"Let's go." he said confidently, and together he and Uruk made their way to battle.

So, after just getting a handle on Mesopotamia the Akkadian Empire is already falling apart. After Naram-Sin's son, the Sumerian King List describes a time of turmoil in the empire that can be most accurately described as anarchy. Four kings laid claim to the throne, and in the chaos Uruk and Lagash were able to declare new dynasties that would come into direct competition with Akkad's rule in the north. Conflict is brewing, and in the next chapter it will come to a head, though maybe in some ways you won't expect!

Leave corrections in the comments, and tune in next time for the end of an empire!