Tiglath-pileser, << TIHG lath py LEE zuhr, >> III ( ? -727 B.C.) was a king of Assyria, a land centered in what is now northern Iraq. He ruled from 744 to 727 B.C.
Tiglath-pileser began the greatest expansion of the Assyrian empire. He defeated the rival kingdom of Urartu, which lay north of Assyria, mainly in what is now Armenia and Turkey. He also extended Assyrian control across the Euphrates River into Syria and Palestine. He conquered the ancient kingdom of Israel and made part of it a province directly under Assyrian control. The remainder of Israel and the kingdom of Judah became vassal states of Assyria. Under this arrangement, the kings of Israel and Judah recognized the king of Assyria as their superior and made payments to him. Tiglath-pileser also seized Babylon and, in 729 B.C., was crowned king of Babylonia.
Tiglath-pileser reorganized the Assyrian imperial system. He removed members of the Assyrian nobility from provincial governorships and replaced them with generals and officials from the royal court. These officials were responsible directly to the king.
