Which king of Israel founded the city of Samaria? Omri founded Samaria as the northern kingdom’s new capital. According to 1 Kings 16, he bought the hill from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city there, naming it Samaria (Shomron) after its former owner.
Omri moved the capital from Tirzah, which had been damaged during the violent succession struggle between Omri and Tibni. Samaria’s hill offered a defensible position and commanded fertile surrounding land and important routes between the highlands and the coast. His son Ahab later expanded the city’s royal complex.
Omri ruled the northern Kingdom of Israel for 12 years, traditionally dated to the ninth century BCE, and founded the Omride dynasty. Although the biblical account criticizes his religious policies, external sources treat him as a significant regional ruler. The Moabite Mesha Stele refers to “Omri, king of Israel,” while Assyrian records used “House of Omri” for Israel.
A common mix-up is confusing Omri with Ahab, his more famous son. Ahab inherited Samaria and its dynasty; Omri was the king who established the city as the capital.