Ammoron, brother of the notorious Amalickiah and a descendant of Zoram, assumed kingship over the Lamanites following his brother’s death (Alma 52:3). As the new monarch, he perpetuated the Lamanite aggression against the Nephites, demonstrating a profound loyalty to his brother’s cause and a similar inclination towards deceit and tyranny. Ammoron maintained a contentious correspondence with Captain Moroni, the Nephite military leader, displaying an adamant stance in the negotiation for the exchange of prisoners, through which his manipulative and treacherous nature was made evident (Alma 54:1-24, Alma 57:1-3).
In his letters, Ammoron justified the Lamanite aggression by asserting ancestral claims and grievances, mirroring the rhetoric of his brother to rationalize the conflict, despite knowing internally the unjust nature of his cause (Alma 54:16-24, Alma 55:1). Such attempts at justifying his war against the Nephites were found fraudulent and added to the war’s grim consequences that included widespread death, famine, and suffering across the land (Alma 62:35).
Ammoron’s reign, characterized by a relentless pursuit of war against the Nephites, found a sudden end when he met a fate similar to that of his brother—slain by the daring Teancum in a stealthy nighttime operation at his military encampment (Alma 62:36). The assassination, while temporarily quelling the Lamanite leadership, led to the pursuers overwhelming Teancum and achieving his demise as well, thus demonstrating the bitter cycle of revenge and bloodshed that had come to define Ammoron’s era. Ammoron’s death marked the end of his direct line’s rule, for it was Tubaloth, his nephew, who ascended the throne thereafter (Helaman 1:16).