Charaton vs Nabonidus

The Greek historian Olympiodorus of Thebes recorded Charaton as the king of the Huns during his embassy to the Hunnic court. Olympiodorus described Charaton as a ruler who became angry over the destruction of a statue of the Roman emperor, indicating diplomatic tensions between the Huns and the Roman Empire.

Charaton received a Roman diplomatic mission led by the historian Olympiodorus. The embassy aimed to negotiate relations between the Hunnic Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. This event provides the only known historical record of Charaton's reign and his interactions with the Roman world.

Nabonidus elevated the moon god Sin above the traditional Babylonian chief god Marduk. He built temples to Sin in Harran and Ur, and attempted to establish Sin as the supreme deity, causing conflict with the Marduk priesthood in Babylon.

Nabonidus left Babylon and resided for ten years at the oasis of Tayma in Arabia, leaving his son Belshazzar as regent in Babylon. His absence from the capital weakened his authority and fueled resentment among the Babylonian elite.

Nabonidus conquered the city of Harran, which had been under Median control. He restored the temple of Sin there, fulfilling a religious vow and extending Babylonian influence into northern Mesopotamia.

Cyrus the Great of Persia captured Babylon without a major battle, as his forces diverted the Euphrates River and entered the city through the river gates. Nabonidus was captured and exiled, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire.