Vizier ( or ), is the title used by modern scholars to indicate the head of the administration in the
first Eblaite kingdom. The title holder held the highest position after the king and controlled the army. During the reign of king
Isar-Damu
Isar-Damu (reigned c. 2320 BC), was the king (Ebla#Government, Malikum) of the first Ebla#Archive period, Eblaite kingdom. Isar-Damu fought a Mari, Syria#Mari-Ebla war, long war with Mari which ended in Eblaite victory; he was probably the last ki ...
, the office of vizier became hereditary.
Title and responsibilities
Vizier
A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was a ...
is a rendering presented by
Alfonso Archi
Alphons (Latinized ''Alphonsus'', ''Adelphonsus'', or ''Adefonsus'') is a male given name recorded from the 8th century (Alfonso I of Asturias, r. 739–757) in the Christian successor states of the Visigothic kingdom in the Iberian peninsula. ...
to indicate the second in command official of
Ebla
Ebla ( Sumerian: ''eb₂-la'', ar, إبلا, modern: , Tell Mardikh) was one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria. Its remains constitute a tell located about southwest of Aleppo near the village of Mardikh. Ebla was an important center t ...
,
whose native title was probably "head of the administration" (lugal sa-za).
Eblaite viziers' authority was of great importance, that they were thought of as kings during the earliest stages of deciphering the
tablets of Ebla, as the names of actual monarchs rarely appeared in administrative tablets.
Aside from heading the administration, the vizier was in command of the kingdom's trade, army and acted as the head of provincial governors.
History
The title was not created until after the period of king
Igrish-Halam
Igrish-Halam or Igriš-Halab, was a king of the ancient city state of Ebla. His name means "(The god of) Halab has driven away (the opponent)", hence, the name might be a commemoration of an Eblaite victory that led to the incorporation of land ...
(fl c. 2360 BC),
but high officials were already prominent during his reign, most importantly
Darmiya and
Tir (whose name appear on an important agreement named the Abarsal treaty).
The first vizier was
Arrukum and he was appointed by king
Irkab-Damu
Irkab-Damu (reigned c. 2340 BC), was the king ( Malikum) of the first Eblaite kingdom, whose era saw Ebla's turning into the dominant power in the Levant.
During his reign, the vizier started to acquire an important role in running the affair of ...
.
He was followed by
Ibrium
Ibrium (2322-2302 BC), also spelt Ebrium, was the Vizier (Ebla), vizier of Ebla for king Irkab-Damu and his successor Isar-Damu.
Ibrium is attested to have campaigned against the city of Abarsal during the time of vizier Arrukum. He took office af ...
who kept his office for 20 years, and managed to establish a parallel dynasty of viziers next to the royal family, being succeeded by his son
Ibbi-Sipish
Ibbi-Sipish or Ibbi-Zikir (ca. 23rd century BC) was the vizier of Ebla for king Ishar-Damu for 17 years. He was the son of his predecessor, Ibrium, who had been Ishar-Damu's vizier for 15 years.
Ibbi-Sipish visited cities abroad, such as Kish. H ...
.
Eblaite viziers
See also
*
Vizier
A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was a ...
Citations
{{reflist, 2
Ebla
Noble titles
Positions of authority