<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003133</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMSOUTH BANCORPORATION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASO</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219906</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GILBERT RODNEY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-07-01</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			<footnoteId id="F1"/>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>760.66</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>22.06</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>33582.4940</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Acquisition of phantom stock units, which are settled only in stock, under AmSouth Bancorporation's Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Includes regular contributions of shares acquired in an exempt transaction pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan as of 7/1/03.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Michelle Bridges</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

