Assyrian king who expanded his empire into the middle Euphrates and up to the river’s great loop in the Syrian region now called Bīt-Adini. This kingdom submitted to Ashurnasirpal II but was destroyed by his son Shalmaneser III. Ashurnasirpal II moved the Assyrian capital from Ashur to Kalhu (present-day Nimrud) which retained its status until the reign of Sargon II (721-705 BCE).