The Achaemenid Kings: Rulers of the Ancient Persian Empire from Cyrus the Great to Alexander's Conquest
From the 6th to the 4th centuries BC, the Persian Empire was governed by the Achaemenid dynasty, which established the largest ancient empire stretching from the Indus River to the Balkan Peninsula. Founded by Cyrus II, known as Cyrus the Great, this empire emerged after his victories over the Medes, Lydians, and Babylonians, marking the end of Babylonian Captivity for the Jewish people. Cambyses II expanded the empire by conquering Egypt, while Darius I implemented administrative reforms and engaged in conflicts with the Greeks, suffering defeat at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Xerxes I attacked Greece, burning Athens but ultimately losing at Salamis and Plataea. Artaxerxes I and II faced Greek uprisings, while the empire weakened under Artaxerxes IV and Darius III, who succumbed to Alexander the Great, culminating in Artaxerxes V's execution in 329 BC.
Key facts
- The Achaemenid Empire was the largest ancient empire, stretching from the Indus River to the Balkans.
- Cyrus the Great founded the empire and ended the Babylonian Captivity for the Jews.
- Darius I created the satrapy system, built Persepolis, and introduced the gold Daric currency.
- Xerxes I invaded Greece, burned Athens, but was defeated at Salamis and Plataea.
- The empire engaged in prolonged conflicts with Greek city-states, including the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War.
- Artaxerxes III reconquered Egypt and brutally suppressed the Revolt of the Satraps.
- Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great at the battles of Issus and Gaugamela.
- The empire fell in 330-329 BC with the execution of Artaxerxes V (Bessus) by Alexander.
Entities
Artists
- Cyrus II (The Great)
- Cambyses II
- Bardiya
- Darius I (The Great)
- Xerxes I
- Artaxerxes I
- Darius II
- Artaxerxes II
- Artaxerxes III
- Artaxerxes IV (Arses)
- Darius III
- Artaxerxes V (Bessus)
- Alexander the Great
- Herodotus
- Xenophon
- Themistocles
- Philip II of Macedon
- Astyages
- Cassandane
- Gaumata
- Hystaspes
- Artabanus
- Megabyzus
- Arses
- Sogdianus
- Ochus
- Arsites
- Parysatis
- Cyrus the Younger
- Agesilaus II
- Bagoas
- Artashata
Institutions
- British Museum, London
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Paul J. Getty Museum, Los Angeles
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Locations
- Persia
- Indus River
- Balkan Peninsula
- Media
- Lydia
- Babylonia
- Egypt
- Cyrene
- Libya
- Greece
- Athens
- Thermopylae
- Salamis
- Plataea
- Marathon
- Persepolis
- Susa
- Bactria
- Thrace
- Danube
- Black Sea
- Volga River
- Macedonia
- Aegean
- Caria
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- Sinai
- Pelusium
- Hyrcania
- Anatolia
- Sparta
- Syracuse
- Ionian Greek cities
- Cunaxa
- Sidon
- Phoenicia
- Armenia
- Issus
- Gaugamela
- Jaxartes
- Pasargadae
- Jerusalem
- Judea
- Central Asia
- Massagetae
- Scythians
- Elam
- Parthia
- Assyria
- Babylon
- Argos
- Asia Minor
- Bisotun