Lugalbanda (c. 2525–2490 bc) was the second king of the First Sumerian dynasty and the first ruler to be designated by the honorific title lugal (or "king"). This title had previously been used solely by the deified god-kings of the Sumerian pantheon.
Gilgamesh (c. 2500–2450 bc) was the fifth king of Uruk and the most renowned of all Sumerian heroes. He is the protagonist of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the world's oldest surviving work of literature.
Sargon of Akkad (c. 2334–2279 bc) was the founder of the Akkadian Empire, which ruled over most of Mesopotamia for nearly two centuries. Sargon is considered to be one of the greatest military commanders and administrators in ancient history.
Ur-Nammu (c. 2112–2095 bc) was the founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur, which ruled over Sumer and Akkad for nearly a century. He is best known for his reforms of the legal and administrative systems, as well as for the construction of several important temples and public buildings.
Shulgi (c. 2094–2047 bc) was the second ruler of the Third Dynasty of Ur and one of the most powerful kings in Sumerian history. He expanded the empire to its greatest extent and established a centralized administration that would serve as a model for future Mesopotamian kingdoms.