(Medes), as well as the lands Araziaš and Ḫarḫar.[1] The statement of this ruler that twenty-seven kings of Parsua brought him tribute indicates the political condition in those localities. The land was divided into small districts, in which petty chieftains ruled independently. Whether the rulers of Parsua were really tributary, or whether they purchased favor for their country through freewill gifts, is hard to determine. Naturally these gifts were regarded as real tribute (ma-da-tu) by the Assyrian king.
This first subjugation of Median races was of short duration, for in the years 829 and 828 the general of Shalmaneser was compelled to march into their territory to intimidate the rebels. Likewise Shalmaneser's successor, Shamshi-rammân III. (825–812), led his forces to the northeastern and eastern boundaries of his empire. He advanced to the country of the Sunbaeans, the Manasans, the Parsuæans, the Taurlæans, the Misaeans, to the lands Gizilbunda and Arazias as well as to the country of the Matæeans (Mât Ma-ta-a-a[2]).
We may believe that by Mât Ma-ta-a-a, "country of the Matæeans," is meant a Median territory, and that Ma-ta-a-a is simply an unusual spelling for Ma-da-a-a. Shamshi-rammân III. was succeeded by Rammân-ni-râri III. (812–783), in whose reign repeated expeditions were made against Ellipi, Ḫarḫar, Araziaš, Mesu, the country of the Mâda, Gizilbunda, Manna, Parsua, Allabria, Abdadana, Naïri.[3] Several of these lands are surely Median. In the reign of the three follow-
