This contribution to the volume in honour of Sir Max Mallowan has its starting point in texts found at Nimrud (Calah) during the excavations he directed there in 1949–57. The initial publication of texts soon after their discovery was invariably due to his personal encouragement and realization of their wide-ranging importance and interest. Indeed, his work at the site produced much new evidence for the political and cultural history of Assyria during the last four centuries of its power when it dominated much of the ancient Near East. Later generations may well attribute to his work there much of the change from the traditional picture of Assyrian kings as primarily the forerunners of military frightfulness to a new view of them as sensitive, able leaders, administrators and builders. It is true that they always needed to be alert to guard their personal position while they maintained law and justice in troubled times which then, as so often in the history of Mesopotamia, required the use of military resources to maintain territorial integrity and the economic basis on which it depended.

The vassal-treaties imposed by Esarhaddon illustrate the means by which the stability of the royal dynasty was maintained and the often precarious nature of the king's hold over his subject peoples. The stipulations presented to them both orally and in writing in May 672 B.C. called both for an initial affirmation of loyalty and for its periodic renewal.