Editing Sargon II (section)

=== Early reign and rebellions ===
[[File:Yahu-Bihdi.jpg|thumb|1903 illustration of a [[relief]] from [[Dur-Sharrukin]] depicting the rebel [[Yahu-Bihdi]] being [[flayed alive]].|alt=Illustration of a rock relief depicting Yahu-Bihdi's death]]
Sargon's reign began with large-scale resistance against his rule in [[Assyria|Assyria's heartland]]. Although quickly suppressed, this political instability led several peripheral regions to regain independence. In early 721, [[Marduk-apla-iddina II]], a [[Chaldea]]n warlord of the [[Bit Yakin|Bit-Yakin]] tribe, captured [[Babylon]], restored Babylonian independence after eight years of Assyrian rule and allied with the eastern realm of [[Elam]].{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|pp=178, 180–181}} Though Sargon considered Marduk-apla-iddina's seizure of Babylonia to be unacceptable, an attempt to defeat him in battle near [[Der (Sumer)|Der]] in 720 was unsuccessful.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=45}}{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} At the same time, [[Yahu-Bihdi]] of [[Hama]] in Syria assembled a coalition of minor states in the northern [[Levant]] to oppose Assyrian dominion.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=45}}

In addition to these revolts, Sargon may have had to deal with unfinished conflicts from [[Shalmaneser V|Shalmaneser]]'s reign. At some point in the 720s, the Assyrians captured [[Samaria (ancient city)|Samaria]] after a siege lasting several years and ended the [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Kingdom of Israel]], with its territory becoming the new Assyrian province of [[Samerina]]. Sargon claimed to have conquered the city,{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=48}} but it is more likely that Shalmaneser captured the city since both the [[Babylonian Chronicles]] and the [[Hebrew Bible]] viewed the fall of Israel as the signature event of his reign.{{Sfn|Yamada|Yamada|2017|p=|pp=408–409}} Sargon's claim to conquering it may be related to the city being captured again after Yahu-Bihdi's revolt.{{Sfn|Yamada|Yamada|2017|p=|pp=408–409}}{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=50}} Either Shalmaneser or Sargon ordered the dispersal of the city of Samaria's population across the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Assyrian Empire]], following the standard [[Resettlement policy of the Neo-Assyrian Empire|resettlement policy]]. This specific resettlement resulted in the loss of the [[Ten Lost Tribes|Ten Lost Tribes of Israel]].{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} In his inscriptions, Sargon claimed to have resettled 27,280 Israelites.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=50}} Though likely emotionally damaging for the resettled populace, the Assyrians valued deportees for their labor and generally treated them well, transporting them in safety and comfort together with their families and belongings.{{Sfn|Radner|2017|p=210}}{{Sfn|Dalley|2017|p=528}}{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|pp=177–178}}

Shortly after his failure to retake [[Babylonia]] from Marduk-apla-iddina in 720, Sargon campaigned against Yahu-Bihdi.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=45}} Among Yahu-Bihdi's supporters were the cities of [[Arpad, Syria|Arpad]], [[Damascus]], [[Sumur (Levant)|Sumur]] and [[Samaria (ancient city)|Samaria]].{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} Three of the cities participating in the revolt (Arpad, Sumur and Damascus) were not vassal states; their lands had been converted into Assyrian provinces governed by royally appointed Assyrian governors.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=61}} The revolt threatened to undo the administrative system established in [[Syria (region)|Syria]] by Sargon's predecessors{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}} and the insurgents went on a [[Massacre|killing spree]], murdering all local Assyrians they could find.{{Sfn|Frahm|2017|p=181}}{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=62}}

Sargon engaged Yahu-Bihdi and his coalition at [[Qarqar]] on the [[Orontes River|Orontes]]. Defeated, Yahu-Bihdi escaped into Qarqar, which Sargon besieged and captured. Sargon's army destroyed Qarqar and devastated the surrounding lands. Yahu-Bihdi was first deported to Assyria together with his family and then [[flayed alive]]. [[Hama]] and the other insurgent cities were annexed again. At the same time as large numbers of people from Syria were resettled in other parts of the empire, Sargon resettled some people to Syria, including 6,300 "guilty Assyrians", presumably Assyrians from the heartland who had fought against Sargon upon his accession but whose lives had been spared. Sargon described their resettlement as an act of mercy: "their transgression I disregarded, I had mercy on them".{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=63–65}}

Around the same time as Yahu-Bihdi, [[Hanunu]] of [[Gaza City|Gaza]] in the south also rebelled against Assyria. After Sargon had defeated Yahu-Bihdi, he marched south. After capturing some other cities on his way, probably including [[Ekron]] and [[Gibbethon]], the Assyrians defeated Hanunu, whose army had been bolstered by allies from [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]], at [[Rafah]]. Despite the transgression, Gaza was kept as a semi-autonomous vassal state and not outright annexed, perhaps because the location, on the border of Egypt, was of high strategic importance.{{Sfn|Elayi|2017|p=|pp=221–222}}