Artabanos

Family: Persian · Role: brother of Dareios · First appears: Book 4 · §78–84

Artabanos, son of Hystaspes and brother of Dareios, urged Dareios not to march against the Scythians. He later advised his nephew Xerxes against marching on Hellas, drawing on his experience campaigning with Dareios against the Scythians. When Xerxes first accepted his counsel, he acknowledged that he had spoken harshly to his elder; after Artabanos said a dream had changed his view, he urged the expedition forward, and Xerxes announced that he would follow the commands given at first.

In Book 7, Xerxes entrusted Artabanos with his sceptre of rule and the care of his house and government. Artabanos was father of Artyphios, Tritantaichmes, Bassakes, and Tigranes; Bassakes commanded the Thracians living in Asia. After taking Athens, Xerxes sent a messenger to Susa to report his success to Artabanos.