Rusa I

Before Rusa's reign had begun, his father, King Sarduri II, had already expanded the kingdom to southeastern Anatolia, and had managed to retake various Anatolian territories from Assyria during a brief period of weakness in the Assyrian Empire.

The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BC) was a formidable foe, and tried to expand his empire.

After suffering reverses, Urartu lost the territory it had annexed under Sarduri II to Tiglath-Pileser III, and was forced to pay tribute to Assyria.

Rusa I was decisively defeated in this war and Urartu was once more subjugated, being forced to pay large annual tributes to Assyria.

Rusa I returned to Tushpa and Melartua was subsequently killed by officials loyal to his father.