Who was Nebuchadnezzar II?

Nebuchadnezzar II (c. 634–562 BCE) is remembered as a key figure from Iraq, known for their role: King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Why is Nebuchadnezzar II important?

Nebuchadnezzar II stands out in history for a specific reason: Ruled the Neo-Babylonian Empire for 43 years, its longest-reigning king. Their story helps place major events, ideas, and cultural change in a wider historical context.

Key achievements

• Ruled the Neo-Babylonian Empire for 43 years, its longest-reigning king
• Conquered Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah, deporting many of its people to Babylon
• Undertook massive construction projects in Babylon, including its famous walls and temples
• Expanded Babylonian control across much of the Levant during his reign

A fast fact

Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon is traditionally associated with the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though many historians dispute whether they ever existed there at all, suggesting they may instead describe gardens built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib at Nineveh.

Legacy

Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judah and the resulting Babylonian exile are central events in Jewish history and the Hebrew Bible, and his building projects made Babylon one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

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