This article lists the kings of Urartu (Ararat or Kingdom of Van), an Iron Age kingdom centered on Lake Van in eastern Asia Minor.

Kings +No.NamePictureReign dates Notes1Arame (Aramu, Arama)858–844 BC2Lutipri844–834 BC (?) Unclear if he was king of Uratu.3Sarduri I (Sarduris I, Sedur I, Asiduri I)834–828 BC Son of Lutipri. Known in Assyrian sources as Ishtarduri. Moved the capital to Tushpa. Expanded the fortress of Van. Possibly established new dynasty.4Ishpuini (Ishpuinis, Ispuini)828–810 BC Son of Sarduri I. Expanded the empire and conquered Musasir.5Menua (Menuas, Minua)810–785 BC Son of Ishpuini. Initially ruled jointly with his father Ishpuini and later jointly ruled with his son Inushpua. Greatly expanded the kingdom. Organized the centralized administrative structure. Fortified a number of cities and founded fortresses. Developed a national canal and irrigation system.6Inushpua788–786 BC Son of Menua. Co-ruled with his father. Possibly killed in battle.7Argishti I (Argishtis I, Argishtish I, Argisti I)785–763 BC Son of Menua. Fortified the empire's frontier. Founded Erebuni (modern-day Yerevan).8Sarduri II763–735 BC Son of Argishti I. Maximum expansion. Zenith of Urartian power. Archaeologists have discovered jars that once contained wheat, oil and wine, in the ruins of a castle the Turks call "Chavez Tepe", built by Uzira Sardouri II. Each buried jar with orifice covered with wedge engraved ceramic lids can hold 300 kg.9Rusa I (Rusas, Ursa)735–714 BC Son of Sarduri II. Assyrian and Cimmerian attacks. Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III destroyed castle of Rusa, which has been recently discovered under Lake Van, Turkey.10Melartua714 BC Son of Rusa I. Briefly served as king after his father's defeat. Subsequently killed by Urartian nobles.11Argishti II714–680 BC Son of Rusa I.12Rusa II (known to Assyrian king as Yaya or Iaya)680–639 BC Son of Argishti II.13Sarduri III639–635 BC Son of Rusa II.14Erimena635–629 BC (?) Son of Rusa II.15Rusa III629–615 BC Son of Erimena.16Sarduri IV615–595 BC Son of Rusa III.17Rusa IV595–585 BC Son of Rusa III. Raids of Medes and Scythians.

See also List of Mesopotamian dynasties

References

Boris Piotrovskii, The Ancient Civilization of Urartu, London, 1969. Igor Diakonoff, The Pre-History of the Armenian People, Caravan Books, New York, 1988. M. Chahin, The Kingdom of Armenia, Curzon, London, 2001.

External links Urartu