Psammetikhos had succeeded his father Necho, who had been put to death by Tuant-Amon.

He was a man of vigour and ability, and he aimed at nothing less than sovereignty over an united and independent Egypt.

His opportunity came in B.C.655.

The Assyrian empire was shaken to its foundations by a revolt of which Babylonia was the centre and which had spread to its other provinces.

For a time it was called on to struggle for bare existence.