Ithobaal I was king of Tyre (887 - 856 BC). During his reign, Tyre expanded its power on the mainland, making all of southern Phoenicia its territory, including Sidon. During his reign, Tyre also built its first colonies - Botrys (now Batrun ) near Byblos, and Auza in Libya.
Ithobaal held close diplomatic contacts with king Ahab of Israel. His daughter Jezebel even married Ahab, and Phoenician influence in Samaria and the other Israelian cities was large.
