Gudea

Gudea wasn't born into Lagash's ruling line. He married Ninalla, daughter of the ruler Ur-Baba, and that wedding opened the door. He took power around 2144 BC in southern Mesopotamia, at a time when the Gutian dynasty — a language-isolate people from the northeast — controlled much of the region, including Mari. Lagash under Gudea somehow kept considerable independence from them, and the city flourished. His son Ur-Ningirsu II succeeded him when he died around 2124 BC.