In spite of these successes for the Assyrians, the Egyptian vassals in the Delta region were unrully and Taharqa was attempting to return to Lower Egypt. Esarhaddon launched a novel military expedition c. 669 BC but died that year, allowing Taharqa to retake Memphis and, finally, the Delta region in late 668 BC.[6] In 667 BC, Esarhaddon's heir Ashurbanipal decided to re-establish the Assyrian dominion over Egypt, invading the land in October of that year and going up to Thebes were they defeated Taharqa while simultaneously quelling a rebellion in the Delta.