Tissaphernes

Family: Persians · Role: satrap · First appears: Book 1, section 1, part 1/2

When Alcibiades visited him with a ship and gifts, Tissaphernes seized him and confined him at Sardis, claiming that the king had ordered war against the Athenians. Later, Pasippidas was banished from Sparta after being charged with helping bring about Thasos’s revolt in conjunction with Tissaphernes. Tissaphernes’s appeals could not persuade Cyrus to receive the Athenian ambassadors.

In 400 BC, Tissaphernes was appointed satrap over his own provinces and those formerly belonging to Cyrus, and demanded the Ionic cities submit to his authority. Dercylidas made terms with him and marched against Pharnabazus, with whom Tissaphernes later considered making common cause against the Hellenes. When Dercylidas sought terms, Tissaphernes preferred a conference to battle; their sides exchanged pledges, then set out incompatible peace demands and agreed to a truce while reporting the negotiations to their authorities.

Tissaphernes later moved his infantry into Caria and stationed his cavalry in the Maeander valley. After Agesilaus defeated the Persian cavalry near Sardis, the king blamed Tissaphernes, sent Tithraustes, and had him beheaded.