Ashurbanipal was the last of the great kings of Assyria.

Ashurbanipal succeeded his father Esarhadon in 669 BC. He achieved the greatest territorial expansion of the Assyrian empire which included Babylonia, Persia, Syria, and Egypt, although Egypt was soon lost as a result of a revolt.

Ashurbanipal was not only a feared warrior but also a great patron of the arts. He established a famous library at his capital Niniveh with over 20 000 clay tablets.

Soon after his departure Assyria fell to the combined forces of Babylonia and Media, and the empire disappeared from history.