TARTAN tär’ tăn (תַּרְתָּנ׃֙; Akkad. turtanu). Title of an Assyrian general in command of a military force and listed in the Assyrian Eponym texts as the next highest official after the king. Such officials are known from the times of Adad-nirari II, Shalmaneser III, Tiglath-pileser III, Sargon II, and Sennacherib.

Two are mentioned in the OT. The first was sent by Sargon II to capture Ashdod (Isa 20:1); the second was sent by Sennacherib with other officials (Rabsaris, Rabshakeh) to demand surrender of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17).