Urukagina of Lagash and the First Social Reformation; successful but short-lived
The continuing conflict between Umma and Lagash, two of the most prominent states of the ancient Sumer, ended in Umma’s victory. Lagash shrank once again into a powerless city-state, marking the end of the Lagash dynasty. Lagash was impoverished by numerous wars and corrupted potentates who imposed malicious taxes and victimized the people of Lagash. The city was so full of injustice and malice that Lagashites overthrew Lugalanda the oppressor, and appointed a man named Urukagina as their new king.
Former rulers of Lagash deprived the freedom and civil rights of the people of Lagash in order to raise an army for war. However, this deprivation of necessary rights continued even at the time of peace, as ruling classes sought to gain more and more profit. The polarization of the rich and poor worsened as the basic morale of the city deescalated to the point where even the religious officials were not free of malice and exploits.
Fury and sufferings were at their peak when Urukagina came to the throne and he was granted the mission to restore Lagash. Following is the list of Urukagina’s reforms regarding tax and property inscribed in the cone of Urukagina.
- Removal of inspector of boatmen from the boats
- Removal of inspector of cattle
- Removal of fisheries inspector
- Removal of silver collector
- No tax from perfumer making oil preparation
- No tribute to Ishakku (king) and vizier when divorce
- Secure and respect on temple properties
- Removal of other revenue collectors and officials parasitizing on people
- Cancelation of all the obligations of indentured servants
Urukagina removed malicious taxations and usurpation of properties to enable and restore the civil rights of the Lagashites. He also got rid of thieves, murderers, and other criminals, and restricted wealthy classes from exploiting the properties of the poor. Urukagina’s reform is the first documented social reformation in the world as well as Sumer.
Urukagina proved himself to be the right man of restoring the city. However, it later reveals he was not the right man in dealing with territorial conflicts and diplomatic matters. Umma, the traditional rival of Lagash, throned Lugal Zage Si as their ensi – priest-king, annexed other major city-states of Mesopotamia, and threatened Lagash.
Third dynasty of Uruk of Lugal Zage Si
Lugal means king in ancient Sumer. Ensi means priest-king, but lugal and ensi are both regarded as the identical title of ruler or king in most of the Mesopotamian region. Lugal has been named to many powerful kings of list of Sumerian kings. However, Lugal Zage Si (2296-2271 BCE) was the first-ever Lugal to encompass all states and establish a dynasty covering all Mesopotamia.
“Lugal Zage Si, king of Uruk, king of the Land, ishib priest of An, lumah priest of Nisaba, child of Bubu, ruler of Umma, lumah priest of Nisaba, the one looked upon favourably by An, king of all lands, chief governor of Enlil, the one given wisdom by Enki, nominee of Utu, chancellor of Suen, general of Utu, provider of Inana, the child born by Nisaba, nourished on rich milk by Ninhursaga, the man of Mesh-sagga-Unuga, the servant reared by Ningirim, the lady of Uruk, chief steward of the gods, Enlil, the king of all, lands gave the rule over the Land, made the Land obedient to him, placed all the lands at his feet, made them submit to him from east to west, then he made the roads passable for him from the Lower Sea along the Tigris and the Euphrates to the Upper Sea”.
(Nippur vase inscription of Lugalzagesisi)
All the glorious titles followed by him represents his power and influence. Lugal Zage Si’s dominion and influence were overreaching the border of a single state. As he conquered Uruk following his conquest of Lagash, he moved his capital from Umma to Uruk and proclaimed the third dynasty of Uruk.
Uruk’s first dynasty goes all the way back to 4-3000 BCE, but these figures are ambiguous between the line of myth and fact, as the first king of the Uruk dynasty, Meshkiangasher, is said to be the son of god Utu. Another famed king of the first Uruk dynasty is Gilgamesh, which is also a mixture of truth and myth. Many other kings of rulers of the first Uruk dynasty are unconfirmed of their existence. The second dynasty was followed by six kings and was eventually overtaken by Lugal Zage Si, who built the third and the greatest dynasty of Uruk.
Uruk’s importance was envisioned from the beginning of Sumer civilization, as Uruk the first city among Sumer to urbanize and evolve as a state. The time period between 4000 – 3200 BCE is called the Uruk period or the Uruk expansion, named after Uruk’s influence as a pioneer of city evolution and expansion as a state. Following the great influence it had on Sumer culture, Uruk has been longed for by many Sumerian cities and kings, and Lugal Zage Si was one of the kings to prove his power by conquering and setting Uruk as his capital city.
Back to the conflict of Umma and Lagash, Lugal Zage Si sought to expand his dominion by conquering Lagash. Union of Umma, Uruk, and Ur made by Lugal Kiginedudu about a hundred years ago effectively isolated the city of Lagash and helped Lugal Zage Si in his campaign. Lugal Zage Si’s force overpowered Urukagina of Lagash, and ended the long fight of Umma and Lagash that started hundred years ago as a conflict over the source of water.
Lugal Zage Si defeated Urukagina and his covenant god Ningirsu. Starting with conquest of Lagash, Lugal Zage Si’s campaign wiped out every part of its world, and Lugal Zage Si established the first-ever empire to reign all Sumer. Lugal Zage Si claimed that Enlil, one of the triads in Sumer myth, gave him rule of all the lands between the upper and the lower seas, with the upper sea being the Levantine sea and the lower sea being the Persian Gulf.
