Ammoron, a descendant of Zoram, was appointed king over the Lamanites after his brother Amalickiah was killed, reigning in his stead (Alma 52:3, Alma 54:23). He continued the war Amalickiah had begun against the Nephites.
In the twenty-ninth year of the judges, Ammoron sent to Captain Moroni asking to exchange prisoners. Moroni replied that he would exchange only on the condition that a man, his wife, and his children be returned for each Lamanite prisoner; in that same letter Moroni declared it supposed him that Ammoron was “a child of hell,” one of only two times that phrase appears in the Book of Mormon (Alma 54:11). Moroni warned Ammoron to withdraw or be destroyed (Alma 54:1-24). Ammoron answered angrily, declaring himself king of the Lamanites and brother of Amalickiah, vowing to avenge his brother’s blood. He justified the war by claiming the Nephites’ fathers had robbed his people of their right to the government, and said the war would be waged until the Nephites submitted or were exterminated (Alma 54:16-24). Moroni grew more angry on reading it because he knew Ammoron understood his own cause was unjust and that his claims were fraudulent (Alma 55:1). Ammoron later offered to give up the city of Antiparah in exchange for prisoners, but Moroni refused, and Ammoron then refused to exchange prisoners at all (Alma 57:1-3).
Teancum held Ammoron and Amalickiah responsible for the war, bloodshed, and famine between the Nephites and Lamanites (Alma 62:35). At night Teancum entered the Lamanite camp, found the king, and cast a javelin that pierced him near the heart; Ammoron woke his servants before he died, and they pursued and killed Teancum (Alma 62:36). Ammoron’s son Tubaloth afterward reigned as king of the Lamanites (Helaman 1:16).