Shakkanakku Explained

Shakkanakku (Sumerian:, GIR.NITA or šagina,^[1], Shakkanakku), was an Akkadian-language title designating a military governor.^[2] Mari was ruled by a dynasty of hereditary Shakkanakkus which was originally set by the Akkadian Empire and gained independence following Akkad's collapse.^[3] It is considered that the Shakkanakkus gained some form of independence and came to be considered as "Kings" from the time of Apil-Kin.^[4] A critical analysis of the Shakkanakku List of Mari has been published.^[5]

The title is also known around the same time in Elam, where several "Shakkanakku (Military Governor) of the country of Elam" with typically Akkadian names ruled for the Akkadian kings.^[6]

The title also existed in Qatna in the 14th century BC, and Dilmun under the Kassites.^[7]

Shakkanakkus under the Akkadians

Shakkanakkus, or Shagina military governors are known from the time of the Akkadian Empire. For example, Shar-kali-sharri had a military governor in Nippur taking charge of the construction of the temple of Enlil. One of his year names reads: "Year in which Szarkaliszarri appointed Puzur-Esztar the shagina (general)" to build the temple of Enlil "Year Szarkaliszarri appointed Puzur-Eshtar, the shagina, to build the temple of Enlil".^{[8] [9]}

Main Shakkanakkus of Mari

Several Shakkanakkus of Mari are known from archaeological artifacts:

List of Shakkanakku rulers of Mari

Ruler		Length of reign	Notes
		c. 2266–2206 BC
		c. 2206–2200 BC	He was the son of Ididish.
		c. 2199–2154 BC	He ruled for 45 years.
		c. 2153–2148 BC	He was the son of Ishme-Dagan.
		c. 2147–2136 BC	He was the son of Ishme-Dagan and the brother of Nûr-Mêr.
		c. 2135–2127 BC	He reigned for eight years.
		c. 2126–2091 BC	He was the son of Ishme-Dagan. Was designated with the royal title Lugal in a votive inscription set by his daughter.
		c. 2090–2085 BC	His name is also read as Iddin-El; his name was inscribed on his votive statue.
		c. 2084–2072 BC	His name is inscribed on a brick.
		c. 2071–2051 BC	He was the son of Apîl-kîn and the brother of Ili-Ishar.
		c. 2050–2025 BC	He was the son of Turam-Dagan. Used the royal title.
		c. 2024–2017 BC	He was the son of Puzur-Ishtar. Used the royal title.
		c. 2016–2008 BC	He was the son of Puzur-Ishtar. Used the royal title.
		c. 2000 BC	This name is inscribed on a seal.
			He was the son of Isi-Dagan.
			This name is damaged, a gap separate him from Ennin-Dagan.
			This name is inscribed on a seal.
			He was the son of Itur-(...).
			This name is damaged and is the last attested Shakkanakku.

Main Shakkanakkus of Elam

The title is also known around the same time in Elam, as in the inscription of the "Table au Lion", Puzur-Inshushinak appears as "Puzur-Inshushin(ak) Ensi (Governor) of Susa, Shakkanakku (Military Governor) of the country of Elam" (kutik-inshushinak ensi shushi^ki skakkanakku mati NIM^ki).^[10] A ruler with an Akkadian name, Ili-ishmani, at the time of Naram-Sin of Akkad or Shar-Kali-Sharri, also used the same title of "Skakkanakku of the country of Elam".^{[11] [12] [13]} This suggest that Ili-ishmani was a vassal of the Akkadian Empire.^[14]

List of the Shakkanakkus of Elam

Ruler		Length of reign	Notes
		c. 2300 BC	He was a dependent of the Akkadian Empire ruler Manishtushu.^[15]
		c. 2206–2200 BC	Shakkanakku in the Province of Parashime
		c. 2199–2154 BC
		c. 2200 BC	He was in charge of Elam at the time of Naram-Sin and/or Shar-Kali-Sharri, and probably their vassal.^[16] ^[17]
		c. 2150 BC	Shakkanakku, who gained independence from the Akkadians. He appears as "Puzur-Inshushin(ak) Ensi (Governor) of Susa, Shakkanakku (Military Governor) of the country of Elam".^[18]

Sources

• Book: Frayne, Douglas . The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Early Periods. 4. Old Babylonian Period (2003–1595 BC). University of Toronto Press. 1990. 978-0-8020-5873-7.
• Hittite Role In Political History of Syria In the Amarna Age Reconsidered. Gromova. Daria. 2007. Ugarit-Forschungen. Ugarit-Verlag. 39. 978-3-86835-001-2.
• Book: Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Gwendolyn. Leick. Routledge. 2002. 978-1-134-78796-8.
• Book: Michalowski. Piotr. 1995. Immigration and Emigration Within the Ancient Near East: Festschrift E. Lipiński. Karel. Van Lerberghe. Antoon. Schoors. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta. 65. Peeters Publishers & Department of Oriental Studies, Leuven. 0777-978X. 978-90-6831-727-5.
• Book: Oliva, Juan. Textos Para Una Historia Política de Siria-Palestina I. Ediciones Akal. 2008. 978-84-460-1949-7. es.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sumerian Dictionary . oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
2. Book: Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia. Gwendolyn Leick. 16 November 2009. 113. Scarecrow Press . 9780810863248.
3. Book: Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History. Trevor Bryce. 6 March 2014. 18. OUP Oxford . 9780191002922.
4. Loisel . Anne-Caroline Rendu . Ilum-Isar et Apil-Kin, deux nouvelles inscriptions de Mari/Tell Hariri . 650. In L. Feliu / J. Llop / A. Millet Alba / J. Sanmartin (Ed), Time and History in the Ancient Near East, Proceedings of Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale 56, Barcelone, Juillet 2010, Pp.633-643 . 2013 . en.
5. Book: Philological Data for a Historical Chronology of Mesopotamia in the 3rd Millennium . 26–27 .
6. Translation into French in Book: Mémoires . 1899 . P. Geuthner . Paris . 8 .
7. Book: The Persian Gulf in History. L. Potter. 5 January 2009. 35. Springer . 9780230618459.
8. Douglas Frayne, Sargonic and Gutian periods, RIME E2.1.5, p.184
9. Book: Hamblin . William J. . Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC: Holy Warriors at the Dawn of History . 2006 . Routledge . 978-1-134-52062-6 . 109 . en.
10. Translation into French in Book: Mémoires . 1899 . P. Geuthner . Paris . 8 .
11. Web site: CDLI-Archival View . cdli.ucla.edu.
12. Book: Álvarez-Mon . Javier . The Art of Elam CA. 4200–525 BC . 2020 . Routledge . 978-1-000-03485-1 . 216 . en.
13. Web site: Site officiel du musée du Louvre . cartelfr.louvre.fr.
14. Book: Potts . D. T. . The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State . 2016 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-107-09469-7 . 100 . en.
15. Book: Álvarez-Mon . Javier . The Art of Elam CA. 4200–525 BC . 2020 . Routledge . 978-1-000-03485-1 . 209 . en.
16. Book: Álvarez-Mon . Javier . The Art of Elam CA. 4200–525 BC . 2020 . Routledge . 978-1-000-03485-1 . 216 . en.
17. Book: Potts . D. T. . The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State . 2016 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-107-09469-7 . 100 . en.
18. Translation into French in Book: Mémoires . 1899 . P. Geuthner . Paris . 8 .