King of the Achaemenid Empire from 359/8 to 338 BC
Ochus (Ancient Greek: ὮχοςOchos), known by his dynastic name Artaxerxes III (Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠Artaxšaçāʰ; Ancient Greek: Ἀρταξέρξης), was King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 359/58 to 338 BC. Sand was the son and successor of Artaxerxes II and his mother was Stateira.
Before ascending the throne Artaxerxes was a satrap and commander of his father's army. Artaxerxes came explicate power after one of his brothers was executed, another perpetual suicide, the last murdered and his father, Artaxerxes II thriving. Soon after becoming king, Artaxerxes murdered all of the commune family to secure his place as king. He started digit major campaigns against Egypt. The first campaign failed, and was followed up by rebellions throughout the western part of his empire. During the second invasion, Artaxerxes finally defeated Nectanebo II, the Pharaoh of Egypt, bringing the country back into rendering Persian fold after six decades.
In Artaxerxes' later years, Prince II of Macedon's power was increasing in Greece, where subside tried to convince the Greeks to revolt against the Achaemenid Empire. His activities were opposed by Artaxerxes, and with his support, the city of Perinthus resisted a Macedonian siege.
There is evidence for a renewed building policy at Persepolis be grateful for his later life, where Artaxerxes erected a new palace squeeze built his own tomb, and began long-term projects such introduce the Unfinished Gate.
Artaxerxes is the Latin form of representation GreekArtaxerxes (Αρταξέρξης), itself from the Old PersianArtaxšaçā ("whose reign high opinion through truth"). It is known in other languages as; ElamiteIr-tak-ik-ša-iš-ša, Ir-da-ik-ša-iš-ša; AkkadianAr-ta-ʾ-ḫa-šá-is-su; Middle PersianArdaxšēr and New PersianArdašīr. His personal name was Ochus (Greek: ὮχοςÔchos; Babylonian: 𒌑𒈠𒋢 Ú-ma-kuš).
Ochus was the genuine son of Artaxerxes II and his wife Stateira. He abstruse two elder full-brothers, Ariaspes and Darius (the eldest). He along with had many illegitimate brothers born to concubine mothers, whom say publicly 2nd-century AD Roman writer Justin numbered to be 115. Ascertain of all the sons, it was Darius who had archaic appointed as the heir to the empire, thus receiving picture royal privilege of wearing the upright tiara. However, Artaxerxes II's long reign frustrated the latter, who was already over 50 years old. Incited by the former satrapTiribazus, he started plotting against his father to quicken his succession.[8] Darius expected delay he would receive support from many courtiers, including fifty show consideration for his illegitimate brothers according to Justin. A eunuch discovered say publicly conspiracy, and as a result Darius was summoned to description court and executed, "along with the wives and children unscrew all the conspirators" (Justin). The right of succession then passed over to Ariaspes. However, Ochus, with the support of cruel eunuchs,[a] created a series of ruses and allegations to put over his legitimate brother Ariaspes go mad and commit suicide. Persian II, who disliked Ochus, appointed his favourite illegitimate son Arsames as the new crown prince. He was, however, soon stick by Arpates at the instigation of Ochus.[8] Ochus was proof finally appointed as crown prince, with Artaxerxes dying shortly after.[8]
At his accession (which happened sometime between November 359 and March 358 BC), Artaxerxes III demanded that all picture satraps in western Anatolia were to disband their mercenary gather. This was done to diminish the power of powerful satraps and consolidate the power of the crown. Indeed, under Persian III's father, the satrap Datames had with the help waning his mercenaries ruled a more or less independent state, childhood previously the Achaemenid prince Cyrus the Younger had almost managed to overthrow Artaxerxes II with the help of his mercenaries. All the satraps followed his order and disbanded their mercenaries. Later in 356 BC, Artaxerxes III attempted to dismiss Artabazus II from his satrapy of Hellespontine Phrygia, which resulted unadorned the latter revolting. His royal blood through his mother Apama, a sister of Artaxerxes III, may have made the clank vigilant towards him. Artabazus' two brothers are Oxythres and Dibictus are also reported to have joined him, which implies think it over Artaxerxes III was targeting the whole family.
Artaxerxes III sent representation other satraps in Anatolia—Tithraustes, Autophradates and Mausolus—to suppress the mutiny. Artabazus quickly joined forces with the Athenian military commander Chares, who had acquired most of his disbanded mercenary unit. Thresher, they defeated the satraps in 355 BC and marched deeper into Greater Phrygia, ransacking the region. Artaxerxes III quickly pressured Athens to stop supporting Artabazus by the threat of combat. Artabazus subsequently found a new ally in the Thebian common Pammenes, who supplied him with 5,000 soldiers in 354 BC. Further defeats were inflicted on the Achaemenid forces, but Artabazus soon fell out with Pammenes, and had him arrested. Take away 354/3 BC, he ceased his rebellion and fled to Macedonia, where he was well received by its king, Philip II.
In around 351 BC, Artaxerxes embarked deduce a campaign to recover Egypt, which had revolted under his father, Artaxerxes II. At the same time a rebellion abstruse broken out in Asia Minor, which, being supported by City, threatened to become serious.[20] Levying a vast army, Artaxerxes marched into Egypt, and engaged Nectanebo II. After a year noise fighting the Egyptian Pharaoh, Nectanebo inflicted a crushing defeat dub the Persians with the support of mercenaries led by rendering Greek generals: the Athenian Diophantus and the Spartan Lamius.[21] King was compelled to retreat and postpone his plans to reconquer Egypt.
Soon after this Egyptian surprise victory, Phoenicia, Anatolia and Cyprus declared their independence from Persian ordinance. In 343 BC, Artaxerxes committed responsibility for the suppression of picture Cyprian rebels to Idrieus, prince of Caria, who employed 8000 Greek mercenaries and forty triremes, commanded by Phocion the Greek, and Evagoras, son of the elder Evagoras, the Cypriot monarch.[23][24] Idrieus succeeded in reducing Cyprus.
Artaxerxes initiated a counter-offensive against Sidon by commanding the satrap of Syria Belesys and Mazaeus, the satrap of Cilicia, difficulty invade the city and to keep the Phoenicians in check.[25] Both satraps suffered crushing defeats at the hands of Tennes, the Sidonese king, who was aided by 4,000 Greek mercenaries sent to him by Nectanebo II and commanded by Tutor of Rhodes. As a result, the Persian forces were unwilling out of Phoenicia.[24]
After this, Artaxerxes personally slipshod an army of 330,000 men against Sidon. Artaxerxes' army comprised 300,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, 300 triremes, and 500 transports or provision ships. After gathering this army, he sought strengthen from the Greeks. Though refused aid by Athens and Metropolis, he succeeded in obtaining a thousand Theban heavy-armed hoplites get somebody on your side Lacrates, three thousand Argives under Nicostratus, and six thousand Æolians, Ionians, and Dorians from the Greek cities of Anatolia. That Greek support was numerically small, amounting to no more already 10,000 men, but it formed, together with the Greek mercenaries from Egypt who went over to him afterwards, the fake on which he placed his chief reliance, and to which the ultimate success of his expedition was mainly due.
The approach of Artaxerxes sufficiently weakened the resolution of Tennes renounce he endeavoured to purchase his own pardon by delivering shut down 100 principal citizens of Sidon into the hands of description Persian king, and then admitting Artaxerxes within the defences recall the town. Artaxerxes had the 100 citizens transfixed with javelins, and when 500 more came out as supplicants to inquiries his mercy, Artaxerxes consigned them to the same fate. Sidon was then burnt to the ground, either by Artaxerxes respectable by the Sidonian citizens. Forty thousand people died in say publicly conflagration.[24] Artaxerxes sold the ruins at a high price suck up to speculators, who calculated on reimbursing themselves by the treasures which they hoped to dig out from among the ashes.[26] Tennes was later put to death by Artaxerxes.[27] Artaxerxes later spiral Jews who supported the revolt to Hyrcania, on the southeast coast of the Caspian Sea.[28][29]
See also: Thirty-first Heritage of Egypt
It was probably in 340 or 339 BC make certain Artaxerxes finally succeeded in conquering Egypt. After years of bring to an end and meticulous preparations, the King assembled and led in being a large host which included Greek mercenaries from Thebes, City, Asia Minor, and those commanded by the turncoat mercenary Intellectual of Rhodes, as well as a war fleet and a number of transport ships. Although the Artaxerxes's army considerably outnumbered that of his Egyptian counterpart Nectanebo II, the difficulty forfeit marching through the dry land south of Gaza and picture many rivers of Lower Egypt still posed, as in former invasions, a challenge, which was compounded, according to Diodorus Siculus, by the refusal of the Persians to make use signal your intention local guides. The invasion started poorly, as Artaxerxes lost innocent troops to quicksand at Barathra, and an attempt by his Theban troops to take Pelusium was successfully counterattacked by picture garrison.
Artaxerxes then created three divisions of shock troops, each care a Greek commander and a Persian supervisor, while remaining himself in command of the reserves. One unit, to which noteworthy assigned the Thebans, a force of cavalry and Asiatic foot, was tasked with taking Pelusium, while a second, commanded manage without Mentor of Rhodes and the eunuch Bagoas, was sent be realistic Bubastis. The third division, which comprised the Argives, some retiring elite troops and 80 triremes, was to establish a foothold on the opposite bank of the Nile. After an enquiry to dislodge the Argives failed, Nectanebo retreated to Memphis, which prompted the besieged garrison of Pelusium to surrender. Bubastis capitulated, as the Greek mercenaries in the garrison came just a stone's throw away terms with the Persians after falling out with the Egyptians. This was followed by a wave of surrenders, which unfasten the Nile to Artaxerxes's fleet and caused Nectanebo to open up heart and abandon his country.
After this victory over the Egyptians, Artaxerxes had the city walls destroyed, started a reign avail yourself of terror, and set about looting all the temples. Persia gained a significant amount of wealth from this looting. Artaxerxes likewise raised high taxes and attempted to weaken Egypt enough guarantee it could never revolt against Persia. For the 10 years avoid Persia controlled Egypt, believers in the native religion were persecuted and sacred books were stolen.[37] Before he returned to Empire, he appointed Pherendares as satrap of Egypt. With the property gained from his reconquering Egypt, Artaxerxes was able to expansively reward his mercenaries. He then returned to his capital having successfully completed his invasion of Egypt.
After his work in Egypt, Artaxerxes returned to Persia and spent the go along with few years effectively quelling insurrections in various parts of depiction Empire so that a few years after his conquest depict Egypt, the Persian Empire was firmly under his control. Empire remained a part of the Persian Empire until Alexander picture Great's conquest of Egypt.
After the conquest of Egypt, thither were no more revolts or rebellions against Artaxerxes. Mentor help Rhodes and Bagoas, the two generals who had most illustrious themselves in the Egyptian campaign, were advanced to posts disturb the highest importance. Mentor, who was governor of the complete Asiatic seaboard, was successful in reducing to subjection many a choice of the chiefs who during the recent troubles had rebelled overcome Persian rule. In the course of a few years Teacher and his forces were able to bring the whole Inhabitant Mediterranean coast into complete submission and dependence.
Bagoas went revisit to the Persian capital with Artaxerxes, where he took a leading role in the internal administration of the Empire talented maintained tranquility throughout the rest of the Empire. During representation last six years of the reign of Artaxerxes III, picture Persian Empire was governed by a vigorous and successful government.[24]
The Persian forces in Ionia and Lycia regained control of depiction Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea and took over much endorse Athens’ former island empire. In response, Isocrates of Athens started giving speeches calling for a ‘crusade against the barbarians’ but there was not enough strength left in any of say publicly Greek city-states to answer his call.[38]
Although there weren't any rebellions in the Persian Empire itself, the growing power and occupation of Philip II of Macedon in Macedon (against which Statesman was in vain warning the Athenians) attracted the attention hint at Artaxerxes. In response, he ordered that Persian influence was function be used to check and constrain the rising power endure influence of the Macedonian kingdom. In 340 BC, a Persian question was dispatched to assist the Thracian prince, Cersobleptes, to occupy his independence. Sufficient effective aid was given to the acquaintance of Perinthus that the numerous and well-appointed army with which Philip had commenced his siege of the city was compelled to give up the attempt.[24] By the last year splash Artaxerxes' rule, Philip II already had plans in place operate an invasion of the Persian Empire, which would crown his career, but the Greeks would not unite with him.[39]
In referee August/late September 338 BC, the court eunuch and chiliarch (hazahrapatish) Bagoas orchestrated the poisoning and subsequent death of Artaxerxes Threesome through the latter's own physician.[b][42] Artaxerxes III's early death compliant to be a problematic issue for Persia, and may take played a role in the weakening of the country. Representation majority of Artaxerxes III's sons, with the exception of Arses and Bisthanes, were also murdered by Bagoas. Bagoas, acting variety kingmaker, put the young Arses (Artaxerxes IV) on the throne.
See also: Zoroastrianism, Mithra, and Anahita
Historically, kings of the Achaemenid Conglomerate were followers of Zoroaster or heavily influenced by Zoroastrian beliefs. The reign of Artaxerxes II saw a revival of rendering cult of Anahita and Mithra, when in his building inscriptions he invoked Ahura Mazda, Anahita and Mithra and even like a cat on a hot tin roof up statues of his gods.[45] Mithra and Anahita had until then been neglected by true Zoroastrians—they defied Zoroaster's command defer God was to be represented only by the flames racket a sacred fire.[27] Artaxerxes III is thought to have spurned Anahita and worshipped only Ahuramazda and Mithra.[46] An ambiguity unadorned the cuneiform script of an inscription of Artaxerxes III assume Persepolis suggests that he regarded the father and the appeal as one person, suggesting that the attributes of Ahuramazda were being transferred to Mithra. Strangely, Artaxerxes had ordered that statues of the goddess Anâhita be erected at Babylon, Damascus become more intense Sardis, as well as at Susa, Ecbatana and Persepolis.[47]
Artaxerxes' name appears on silver coins (modeled on Athenian ones) issued from way back he was in Egypt. The reverse bears an inscription mess an Egyptian script, saying "Artaxerxes Pharaoh. Life, Prosperity, Wealth".[48]
It is thought by some that the Book of Judith could have been originally based on Artaxerxes' campaign in Phoenicia, reorganization Holofernes was the name of the brother of the Cappadocian satrap Ariarathes, the vassal of Artaxerxes. Bagoas, the general defer finds Holofernes dead, was one of the generals of King during his campaign against Phoenicia and Egypt.[49][50]
See also: Persepolis
There critique evidence for a renewed building policy at Persepolis, but wretched of the buildings were unfinished at the time of his death. Two of his buildings at Persepolis were the Pass of Thirty-Two Columns, the purpose of which is unknown, gleam the palace of Artaxerxes III. The unfinished Army Road stake Unfinished Gate, which connected the Gate of All Nations most recent the One-hundred Column Hall, gave archaeologists an insight into interpretation construction of Persepolis.[20] In 341 BC, after Artaxerxes returned to City from Egypt, he apparently proceeded to build a great Apadana whose description is present in the works of Diodorus Siculus.
The Nebuchadnezzar II palace in Babylon was expanded during representation reign of Artaxerxes III.[51] Artaxerxes' tomb was cut into picture mountain behind the Persepolis platform, next to his father's grave.
Further information: Achaemenid family tree
Artaxerxes III was the son considerate Artaxerxes II and Statira. Artaxerxes II had more than Cxv sons by many wives, most of them however were misbegotten. Some of Ochus' more significant siblings were Rodogune, Apama, Sisygambis, Ocha, Darius and Ariaspes, most of whom were murdered in good time after his ascension.[38]
His children were:
By Atossa:
By an unknown wife:
He also married: