Sargon, the king of Akkad, successfully embarked on a series of military conquests and united much of Mesopotamia. Sargon was a powerful leader who founded the Akkadian Empire around the 24th century BCE.
Sargon was a commoner from birth, and nothing is known about his early life. According to some stories, he was found as a baby floating down the Euphrates River in a reed basket, resembling a mythological kid sent by the gods. Serving as a cupbearer in Kish’s court was his new position; it was a dependable but unprincipled one. Sargon, however, was not satisfied to serve. He was filled with ambition and saw opportunities beyond his modest upbringing.
One day, a quirk of fate led Sargon to power. He deposed the monarch of Kish and seized the kingdom for himself. But he did not stop there. Sargon, the self-proclaimed King of Kish at the time, sought to bring Mesopotamia’s broken city-states together. The territories were teeming with rival rulers, each leading its own city-states, such as Uruk, Ur, and Lagash—each jealous of their power and influence.
Sargon’s ambition did not stop there; he defeated the mighty Lugalzagesi of Uruk, seizing the city and crowning himself King of Sumer and Akkad. From his capital, Akkad, he spread his kingdom far and wide, connecting towns from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. His reign introduced trade, cultural interchange, and a common language to his territory. Despite rebellions and external threats, Sargon’s military might and leadership preserved his empire for more than 50 years. He is known as the first great empire-builder, who united Mesopotamia under one rule.