Key Facts
- Duration
- 13 years (586–573 BC, per most sources)
- Attacker
- Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon
- Defender
- Phoenician city of Tyre
- Primary ancient source
- Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews X.228
- Biblical reference
- Book of Ezekiel, chapters 26 and 29
Strategic Narrative Overview
The siege endured for approximately 13 years, reflecting the extreme difficulty of reducing a well-supplied island fortress. Babylonian land forces could blockade the mainland portion of Tyre but faced inherent limitations in conducting amphibious operations against the island city. No detailed account of specific military engagements survives. The Book of Ezekiel, written during this period, prophesied the city's fall to Babylonian forces, while also later acknowledging the siege had been only partially successful.
01 / The Origins
In the early sixth century BC, Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon pursued dominance over the Levantine coast following his campaigns against Judah. Tyre, a prosperous Phoenician city partly situated on a coastal island, represented both strategic and commercial importance. Control of Tyre would give Babylon access to Mediterranean trade networks. Around 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar launched a prolonged siege, though Josephus alternatively dates the campaign's start to 598/597 BC, the 7th year of his reign.
03 / The Outcome
The outcome of the siege remains uncertain. The Book of Ezekiel (chapter 29) implies Nebuchadnezzar did not achieve full conquest of Tyre, suggesting a negotiated settlement or partial Tyrian submission rather than total defeat. Nebuchadnezzar reportedly received little material reward for the prolonged campaign. Tyre retained enough autonomy to remain a functioning city, and its island core was not fully subdued until Alexander the Great's siege in 332 BC.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Nebuchadnezzar II.
Side B
1 belligerent