Artaxerxes

Also known as: Arsicas / Oarses · Family: Persia · Role: king · First appears: Pericles

Artaxerxes, also known as Arsicas and Oarses, was the eldest son of Darius (father) and Parysatis. Though Cyrus was said to be headstrong and vehement while Artaxerxes was gentler, Arsicas was proclaimed king, with his name changed to Artaxerxes, while Cyrus retained Lydia and the maritime provinces. Cyrus later made war against him for the Persian throne, making them enemies; Artaxerxes also invited his younger brothers Ostanes and Oxathres to his table.

As king, Artaxerxes employed Conon and Pharnabazus as admirals and defeated Sparta at Cnidos, imposing the Peace of Antalcidas on Greece. He gave Antalcidas extraordinary honor, continued to call him his friend and guest, and was also described as honoring Pelopidas; he bestowed ten thousand darics on Timagoras. He sent Timocrates to Greece with gold to corrupt leading men, opposed Agesilaus, and eventually put Tisaphernes to death. He promised his mother he would spare Clearchus, but later had him and the others killed except Menon; he also sent rich presents to Mithridates, who had first wounded him.

Artaxerxes ate with his mother and his wedded wife Statira, and Parysatis later persuaded him to marry Atossa and declare her his lawful wife. Some historians also say he married Amestris. He was father to Darius (son), whom he proclaimed successor at twenty-five, as well as to Ariaspes and Arsames; after Ariaspes died, he became more affectionate toward Arsames. His younger brother Ochus arranged Arsames’s murder, and the aged Artaxerxes died from grief after hearing of it, “after a life of ninety-four years, and a reign of sixty-two.” Artasyras brought him news that Cyrus was dead, while his eunuch Satibarzanes sought drink for him when he was suffering from thirst and a wound.