Hammurabi (c. 1810 - 1750 BC) was the sixth king of the first Babylonian dynasty and range from c. 1792 B.C. to c. 1750 B.C.  He inherited the throne from his father, Sin-Mubaliit, who abdicated due to poor health. During his reign he conquered Elam and the city states of Larsa, Eshuuna and Mari. His conquest of Assyria brought nearly all of Mesopotamia under his rule. He is also known as the creator of the code of Hammurabi which he claimed to have received from Shamash, the Babylonian God of justice. In his lifetime Hammurabi was considered a God. After his death he was revered as a great conqueror and a model ruler who spread civilization and forced all people to pay obeisance to Marduk, the national god of the Babylonians. His reign became the frame of reference for Mesopotamians concerning all matters in the distant past. Many kings in the Near East claimed Hammurabi as an ancestor. Over time his military accomplishments became de-emphasized and his role as a law giver became his primary legacy.