Masistes

Family: Persian · Role: general · First appears: Book 7 · §70–85

In Book 7, Masistes, son of Dareios and Atossa, was named among the commanders of the whole foot army alongside Mardonios and others. When Xerxes divided the land army into three divisions, Masistes and Mardonios commanded the division that marched beside the fleet.

In Book 9, Xeinagoras stopped Artaÿnte from killing Masistes by throwing her to the ground, and Xerxes rewarded him with rule over Kilikia. At that time, Xerxes arranged the betrothal of Dareios to Masistes’ daughter. Later, Xerxes ordered Masistes to leave his wife and offered him his own daughter instead; Masistes refused. After Masistes’ wife was mutilated and sent home, he set out with his sons toward Bactria, intending to raise a revolt and harm Xerxes. Xerxes sent an army after him, which killed Masistes, his sons, and his followers.