Shamshi-ilu (Šamši-ilu) was an influential court dignitary and commander in chief (turtanu) of the Assyrian army who rose in high prominence.
Later, he rose in the ranks of the Assyrian army to become the commander in chief (turtanu) who had a high degree of influence over the kings of Assyria who lived in his time.
[4] Rising in high order through the ranks thanks to his teachings in the Assyrian ways Shamshi-ilu rose to the highest position in the army under the Kings Adad-Nirari III and Shalmaneser IV.
According to the Antakya stele inscription of Adad-nirari III dating around 800 BC, Shamshi-ilu mediated in the border dispute between the kingdoms of Hamath and Arpad.
At that time, around 796 BC, due to the weakness of the royal power, and the young age of the king, Shamshi-ilu probably became a gray eminence at the Assyrian court, managing the affairs of the state.