Naqi’a
Flourished circa 680–627 B.C.E., Assyria (modern-day Iraq)
Naqi’a-Zakutu’s familial connections are unclear. In some locations, she is recorded as the wife of King Sennacharib of Assyria and mother of his son, Esarhaddon, while in others she is said to be the wife of Esarhaddon and mother of his son, Ashurbanipal. Despite the discrepancy, we do know that Naqi’a was influential in putting her descendants on the throne of Assyria, where Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal are listed as kings (reigned 680–669 and 668–627 B.C.E., respectively). During each of their reigns, she served in an advisory position to the throne under the title of queen mother.
