The greatest moments of Assyrian expansion occurred during the rule of Tiglath-pileser III (744–727 BC), who expanded into Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, and Egypt.[2] His reforms of the Assyrian empire maximized military and political efficiency allowing him to establish the Neo Assyrian Empire. He centralized power by weakening Assyrian officials and appointed governors to distribute the already small portion of power left within the empire.[3] He also instituted a larger army with use of tribute soldiers and conquered peoples.[4] After his conquests and those of his sons, Shalmaneser V and Sargon II in Anatolia and Levant, the empire entered a stage of frontier fortification and stabilization known as the Pax Assyriaca.[2] Considering the method of expansion used by the Neo Assyrians of military conquest and demands of tribute of their conquered lands paints the Neo Assyrians in a rather negative light. However, expanding over a large territory it provided stability in power that was not seen previously since many of the local leaders were fighting over that power.