Amel-Marduk

Amel-Marduk, also known as Awil-Marduk and biblically referred to as Evil-Merodach, was the third emperor of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from five hundred sixty-two BCE until his overthrow and murder in five hundred sixty BCE. He succeeded the renowned Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled from six hundred five to five hundred sixty-two BCE. Despite his royal lineage, little is documented about Amel-Marduk's reign due to the scarcity of surviving cuneiform sources.

Originally named Nabu-shum-ukin, Amel-Marduk was not the eldest son of Nebuchadnezzar II, nor the oldest living son at the time of his appointment as crown prince. The reasons behind his selection as successor remain unclear, especially given the reported tensions between him and his father, which may have included an attempt by Amel-Marduk to seize the throne while Nebuchadnezzar was still alive. Following this conspiracy, he faced imprisonment, possibly alongside Jeconiah, the captured king of Judah.

Upon his release, Nabu-shum-ukin adopted the name Amel-Marduk, likely as a tribute to the god Marduk. His reign is primarily remembered for the significant act of releasing Jeconiah after thirty-seven years of imprisonment. Additionally, Amel-Marduk is noted for undertaking some construction projects in Babylon, although the details and scale of these endeavors remain ambiguous.

Despite these actions, Amel-Marduk's rule was met with discontent among the Babylonians, who later described him as incompetent in their historical accounts. His reign came to a violent end in five hundred sixty BCE when he was overthrown and murdered by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar, who subsequently ascended to the throne.