Nabopolassar (Nabu-Apla-Usur) in Wikipedia

Nabopolassar (Akkadian:Nabû-apal-usur) (c.658 - 605 BC) was the first king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.[1] He ruled over Babylon for 20 years (625 - 605 BC). Rise to Power He rose in revolt against the Assyrian Empire (which had ruled Babylon for the previous 200 years) in 627 BC, after the last significant Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal(ASH-ur-BA-Nee-paal), died in 626 BC. In 625 BC, the Assyrian Empire's grasp on Babylon was now almost nonexistent, so he became its first king that year. Destruction of Assyria Assyria, weakened by internal strife and ineffectual rule following the death of Ashurbanipal, were unable to resist the alliance of Babylonians, Medes and Scythians, who combined to sack the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 612 BC, at the Battle of Nineveh after a prolonged siege. Nabopolassar was left in control of Nineveh and destroyed the remnants of the Assyrian Empire in 605 BC. Other Campaigns Nabopolassar waged war against Egypt from 610 BC until his death. In 608 BC, Nabopolassar took the Assyrian city of Harran, where Assyrian forces had retreated after the fall of Nineveh. Later that year, his son Nebuchadnezzar succeeded him to the throne of Babylonia and won the Battle of Carchemish, fought against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, shortly before Nabopolassar died. Later years For the last five years of his very productive life, Nebopolassar was leading the Babylonian army in a successful war against Egypt. Once victory was claimed, Nebopolassar, now in his fifties, gave up the throne in favor of his son, Nebuchadnezzar II. Death Within months of his abdication in 605 BC, Nebopolassar died of natural causes. He was about 53 years old.