Larsa was the great rival of Isin in the Early Babylonian period, and its dynasty was founded in 2025 BC by a certain Naplanum. Little is known about him and the other early rulers of Larsa.
More is known, however, about the city's Amorite kings. Zabaya (1941-1933 BC) was responsible for the rebuilding of the Temple of Shamash at Larsa. The kingdom grew under his brother and successor Gungunum (1932-1906 BC) who captured Ur from Isin, thus securing control of the Gulf trade routes for Larsa.
Over the next seventy years Larsa gradually encroached upon territories held by Isin, and the religious city of Nippur in particular changed hands on many occasions.
In 1834 BC the Amorite chieftain Kudar-Mabuk installed his son Warad-Sin as ruler of Larsa. Warad-Sin and his brother Rim-Sin, who had an exceptionally long reign (c.1822-1763 BC), continued to expand the Kingdom of Larsa.
In 1794 BC Rim-Sin conquered Larsa's rival, Isin, a feat which he celebrated for the rest of his reign. The success of Larsa, however, was short-lived, for around 1763 BC Larsa itself fell to another emerging power - Hammurabi's Babylon.
