Mind-Benders of Mesopotamian History
He built a brand-new capital — and it was barely lived in
King Sargon II of Assyria built an entirely new capital from scratch, Dur-Sharrukin ('Fortress of Sargon'), completing much of it in about a decade (roughly 717–706 BCE). Soon after he moved in, he was killed on campaign around 705 BCE; his successor shifted the capital to Nineveh, and the gleaming new city was largely abandoned.
How we know
Dur-Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) built c.717–706 BCE; Sargon II occupied the palace 706 BCE and died on campaign 705 BCE; successor Sennacherib moved the capital to Nineveh, leaving the city largely abandoned.
One of many fact-checked wonders across eight traditions at The Spring of Wisdom.