oalition of Syro-Palestinian city-states at Carchemish in northern Syria. With Carchemish under Babylonian control, Nebuchadnezzar's army swept through Palestine and moved south towards Egypt. It was in this year that Jehoiakim, the Judean king, was subordinated into vassalage by Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians reached Pelusium, at the border with Egypt, when word came of his father's unexpected death. Knowing the ambitious nature of his competitors for the throne, Nebuchadnezzar rushed back to Babylon to receive the crown. Like the Assyrians before him, Nebuchadnezzar discovered it relatively easy to establish authority in Syro-Palestine, but difficult to sustain it. Being so distanced from his vassal states, Nebuchadnezzar could not effectively collect the taxes he had levied on them. He was forced to campaign there habitually to enforce his will. In 601, Nebuchadnezar's ambitions led him to Egypt in an attempt to subdue this ancient power. However, the Egyptian armies were well prepared and fought the massive Babylonian forces t
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