King of Sumer and Akkad, fifth king of the Ur III dynasty
1995 BCE
to 1940 BCE
Ibbi-Sin, son of Shu-Sin, is king of Sumer and Akkad and last king of the Ur III dynasty, and reigns circa 1963 BCE-1940 BCE (Short chronology).
During his reign, the Sumerian empire is attacked repeatedly by Amorites.
As faith in Ibbi-Sin's leadership fails, Elam declares its independence and begins to raid as well.
Ibbi-Sin orders fortifications built at the important cities of Ur and Nippur, but these efforts are not enough to stop the raids or keep the empire unified.
Cities throughout Ibbi-Sin's empire fall away from a king who cannot protect them.
Ibbi-Sin is, by the end of his kingship, left with only the city of Ur.
In 1940 BCE, the Elamites, along with "tribesmen from the region of Shimashki in the Zagros Mountains" (Stiebing 79) sack Ur and take Ibbi-Sin captive; he is taken to the city of Elam where he is imprisoned and, at an unknown date, dies.