Assyrian king, son and successor of Shalmaneser III (858-824). The early years of his reign were not easy. Some regions of his empire, such as Hindanu in the middle Euphrates, revolted, and the end of his father’s reign had been rocked by rebellions among Assyrian dignitaries and the country’s cities and provinces. He was forced to seek the support of king Marduk-zakir-shumi (Marduk-zakir-šumi) I (854-819) of Babylon.