Southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) witnessed a revival of city-states between 1100 B.C. and roughly 800 B.C.        

STEVEN W. HOLLOWAY -- Ph.D. -- Researcher at American Theological Library Assciation

Dear Jonathan,

The last Neo-Babylonian king, Nabonidus, acquired his throne through conspiracy in which he played a role, without, perhaps having premeditated his own elevation to kingship.  Like Nabopolassar, the first Neo-Babylonian king, he was a self-proclaimed “son of a nobody”; unlike his illustrious predecessor, however, Nabonidus saw fit to footnote the popular acclamation of his rulership.  In a text known from a single broken stele from Babylon, composed during his first regnal year, following a break in the inscription, Nabonidus professes that “They [Nabonidus’ co-conspirators against La-bâši-Marduk] brought me to the palace and all of them prostrated themselves at my feet and kissed my feet.  They kept praising my kingship.” ana qe?reb e-kalli? ublu-?innima kullassunu ana še-pe-ya [i]ššapku-nimma unaššiqu- še-pa-ya iktanarrabu- šarru-ti. Thereafter follows the stereotypical assertion of divine election by Marduk.

Other odd texts like the so-called Assur Charter of Sargon II scream out popular usurpation to the modern historian, but attribute their elevation to the throne in the usual fashion -- the gods called me to the kingship from birth, etc. etc. See Vera Chamaza, Galo W. "Sargon Ii’s Ascent to the Throne: The Political Situation." State Archives of Assyria Bulletin 6/1 (1992): 21-33.

There is a sizable body of correspondence exchanged between the Sargonid kings and various governors, priests, and crown officials in Babylonia that speak directly to the wavering political alliances of the major cities -- Babylon, Nippur, Sippar, and others.  Grant Frame's monograph is probably your most reliable window into that world: Frame, Grant. Babylonia 689-627 B.C.: A Political History. Vol. 69, Uitgaven Van Het Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Instituut Te Istanbul. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 1992.

Your thesis is sound enough -- the problem is partial evidence repurposed for other imperial needs.

Hope this helps.

Steven

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