King of Babylon (r.604-562 BC), the son of Nabopolassar. While he was still crown prince he defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish in Syria in 605 BC, and undertook campaigns in Syria, Elam and the Levant, ensuring Babylonian supremacy in the Middle East by about 590 BC. He crushed revolts in Judah in 597 and 587 BC, and deported the Jews to Babylonia. He rebuilt his capital at Babylon on a vast and magnificent scale. His dynasty was overthrown soon after his death.