User:SomeGuyWhoRandomlyEdits/Second dynasty of Uruk

The second dynasty of Uruk (abbreviated Uruk II) was a dynasty of rulers from the city of Uruk who (r. c. 2550 – c. 2154 BCE). Uruk II is part of the Early Dynastic III period (c. 2600) of ancient Mesopotamia. It was preceded by the dynasty of Hamazi on the Sumerian King List (SKL). Only three (out of a total of nine up to fourteen) of the rulers from the second dynasty of Uruk are mentioned on the SKL. Likewise on the SKL: the second dynasty of Uruk was succeeded by a second dynasty from Ur; however, the once supposed second dynasty of Ur may have never existed.

Kings
"Lugal" (“” was a Sumerogram ligature of two signs: #1 "𒃲" meaning "big" and/or "great", and #2 "𒇽" meaning "man"; the term literally means "big man") may have once referred to both/either an "owner" of a property (such as that of a boat and/or a field) and/or the "head" of an entity (like that of a family and/or household.) The cuneiform sign would later go on to serve as a determinative in cuneiform texts, indicating that the following word would be the name of a king. A lugal may have headed a confederacy and/or dominion (composed of several city-states–perhaps even the whole of Sumer.) The functions of such a lugal would include certain ceremonial and cultic activities, arbitration in border disputes, military defence against external enemies, and once the lugal died, the eldest son would take over.

Great kings from Uruk
Lugalnamniršumma was an ancient Iraqi ruler. He reigned sometime during the Early Dynastic IIIb period (c. 2500); additionally, temp. Akalamdug, Urnanshe, Akurgal, Paraganedu, and Ennail. Ursangpae may have preceded Lugalnamniršumma as a king of Uruk. Lugalnamniršumma may have also been succeeded by Lugalsilâsi I as a great king of Kish. Lugalsilâsi I reigned temp. Eannatum, Akurgal, Ush, E-iginimpa'e, and Ikun-Mari.

Great kings from Ur
Meskalamdug ((r. undefined – undefined)) may have been the son of the first archaeologically recorded ruler from Ur said to have held the Sumerian title for king (Ur-Pabilsag). Mesannepada ((r. undefined – undefined)) is the first king of Ur listed on the SKL. It would seem that both Akalamdug and Mesannepada may have been sons of Meskalamdug, according to an inscription found on a bead in Mari, and Meskalamdug may have been the true founder of the first dynasty of Ur.

Mesilim ((r. c. 2550 – c. 2500)) may have enjoyed suzerainty over Ur and Adab. He is also mentioned in some of the earliest monuments as arbitrating a border dispute between Lagash and Umma. Mesilim's placement before, during, or after the reign of Mesannepada in Ur is uncertain, owing to the lack of other synchronous names in the inscriptions, and his absence from the SKL. Some have suggested that Mesilim and Mesannepada were in fact one and the same; however, others have disputed this theory. Both Mesilim and Mesannepada also seem to have subjected Kish, thereafter assuming the title king of Kish for themselves. The title king of Kish would be used by many kings of the preeminent dynasties for some time afterward.

High kings
"In Uruk, Enshakushanna became king; he ruled for sixty years. Lugalkinishedudu ruled for 120 years. Argandea ruled for seven years. Three kings; they ruled for 187 years. Then Uruk was defeated and the kingship was taken to Ur."

- Sumerian King List

High kings from Uruk
Enshakushanna ((r. c. 2440 – undefined)) was said to have reigned for sixty years on the SKL. An inscription stated that his father was "Elili" (possibly Elulu of the first dynasty of Ur). He is said to have conquered Ur, Akshak, Kish (where he overthrew Enbi-Ishtar), Akkad, Hamazi, and Nippur—effectively claiming hegemony over all of Sumer and adopting the title Lord of Sumer and King of all the Land. He was preceded by three rulers who (r. c. 2500 – undefined): Lugalnamniršumma, Lugalsilâsi, and Urzage (all of whom assumed the title king of Kish; nonetheless, neither are mentioned on the SKL). He was succeeded by Lugalkinishedudu ((r. c. 2430 – undefined)).

Lugalkinishedudu may have retained some of the power inherited by his predecessors—which included rule over Uruk, Ur, and assumed the title king of Kish. The oldest known written mention of a peace treaty between two kings is on a clay nail found in Girsu, commemorating the alliance between Lugalkinishedudu and Entemena of Lagash.