His reign falls mainly into the early Akkadian period.
There are fragmentary and conflicting information about Meskigal. That he originally was the governor of Adab serving king Lugalzagesi of Uruk, but then changed his allegiance to Sargon of Akkad. Later, inscriptions indicate that he participated in military expeditions under Sargon. Finally, he appear in inscriptions as a rebel against Rimush of Akkad. The timeframe here is quite extensive raising questions.
It has been suggested that Meskigal had actually defected to the Akkadian Empire, in opposition to Lugal-zage-si.[3] Another known case is Lugalushumgal, who was also a collaborator of Akkad.[4]
Reign of Sargon of Akkad
In a fragmentary inscription, he claimed to have been on an expedition to the "Mountain of the Cedar forests" (𒆳𒄑𒂞, KURg̃eš-erin, Lebanon), perhaps together with Sargon I:[2]
"For Ninšubur, the minister of An, for the life of Meskigal, ruler of Adab, (...) from the cedar mountains. (...) For the life of his wife and children to Ninšubur his goddess he dedicated it (this statue). Though (my) ... Prayer Have Compassion!"
It is uncertain if this is the same Meskigal being mentioned in these several inscriptions.[6]
According to an inscription however, the Akkadian ruler Rimush, successor of Sargon, captured him following a rebellion:[7][8]
"Rimuš, king of the world, in battle over Adab and Zabalam was victorious, and 15,718 men he struck down, and 14,576 captives he took. Further, Meskigala, governor of Adab, he captured, and Lugalgalzu, governor of Zabalam, he captured. Their cities he conquered, and their walls he destroyed. Further, from their two cities many men he expelled, and to annihilation he consigned them"
