Assyria has entered a several-decades-long period of weakness.

The Assyrian eclipse, also known as Bur-Sagale (Bur-Saggile, Pur-Sagale or Par-Sagale) eclipse, is recorded in Assyrian eponym lists, most likely in the ninth year of king Ashur-dan III, who reigns from 773 to 755 BCE.

Assyria is hit by a plague in 765 BCE, according to the eponym canon, and the following year the king cannot campaign, although it is customary for the Assyrian king to lead a military expedition every year.

The Assyrians’ perception of the total eclipse of the sun on June 15, 763, as an evil omen serves to drive the already plague-ridden country, threatened with expansion by Urartu, deeper into chaos.

A revolt breaks out in 763 and lasts until another plague hits the land four years later.

Ashur-nirari, a son of Adad-nirari III, succeeds his brother, Ashur-dan III, to the throne of a declining Assyria in 755, inheriting a difficult situation from his predecessor.

The Assyrian rulership is severely limited by the influence of court dignitaries, particularly that of Shamshi-ilu, the commander-in-chief (turtanu).

The Middle East: 753–742 BCE

Revival and Consolidation in Assyria

In 745 BCE, following a prolonged period of internal turmoil, a military revolution dramatically transforms Assyria’s fortunes. Ashur-nirari V (755–745 BCE), already weakened by years of ineffective governance and internal strife, is overthrown in a coup led by a dynamic military leader who ascends the throne as Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE). Immediately upon seizing power, Tiglath-Pileser embarks on an aggressive campaign to restore Assyrian dominance and stability. He swiftly consolidates power domestically and reasserts Assyrian authority over the fragmented territories.

Resurgence and Imperial Ambitions

Tiglath-Pileser’s reign signals the rebirth of the Assyrian Empire, marked by decisive military campaigns. In 743 BCE, Assyrian forces deliver significant blows against the powerful kingdom of Urartu, reclaiming lost territories and rolling back Urartian advances that had threatened Assyria's northern frontier. Tiglath-Pileser decisively secures Assyrian interests in Syria and northern Mesopotamia, setting the stage for renewed expansion and control over vassal states.

Meanwhile, in southern Mesopotamia, Nabonassar establishes a new dynasty in Babylon in 747 BCE. Although initially gaining some autonomy during Assyria's internal chaos, Nabonassar’s Babylon soon falls under the renewed power of Assyria. Tiglath-Pileser reasserts Assyrian suzerainty over Babylon, allowing Nabonassar to rule as a vassal king. This arrangement stabilizes relations between Assyria and Babylonia, bringing a semblance of unity back to the broader Mesopotamian region.

Cultural Developments in Iran

During this era, significant cultural developments occur in northwestern Iran, particularly among the emerging Medes. Around 750 BCE, the Medes construct impressive architectural structures at Tappeh Nush-i Jan, near modern Malayer. Notably, a fire temple dating from this period remains partially intact, with walls rising to a height of twenty-six feet (eight meters), reflecting the region’s evolving religious and cultural practices.

Thus, from 753 to 742 BCE, Assyria experiences a remarkable recovery under the vigorous leadership of Tiglath-Pileser III, while regional powers such as Babylon and Media continue to shape the complex geopolitical and cultural landscape of the Middle East.

The Assyrian king Ashu-rnirari is compelled to stay "in the land" for four years, according to the Assyrian eponym canon.

It is customary for the Assyrian king to campaign every year, and such an indication usually means the kingship has been seriously weakened.

A revolution overthrows the Assyrian royal family in 745.

Ashu-rnirari’s successor, a general elevated by the coup, takes the throne as Tiglath-Pileser III.

He immediately sets himself to the task of restoring Assyria’s imperial power.

Tiglath-Pileser and his autonomous vassals bring the rebellious Babylonians to heel as other Assyrian forces wage a successful campaign in 743 BCE to roll back the Syrian-Armenian kingdom of Urartu, increasingly a menace to the frontier.