Artaxerxes III

Lore & Background

Artaxerxes III's path to the throne was bloody. His elder full-brother Darius, the appointed heir, plotted against their father Artaxerxes II and was executed along with the wives and children of all the conspirators. The right of succession then passed to Ariaspes, but Ochus, with the support of some eunuchs, created a series of ruses and allegations to make Ariaspes go mad and commit suicide. Artaxerxes II then appointed his favourite illegitimate son Arsames as crown prince, but he was soon killed by Arpates at the instigation of Ochus. Ochus was finally appointed crown prince, with Artaxerxes dying shortly after. Once king, he demanded all satraps in western Anatolia disband their mercenary forces to consolidate royal power. When Artabazus II of Hellespontine Phrygia revolted in 356 BC, Artaxerxes sent other satraps—Tithraustes, Autophradates, and Mausolus—to suppress him. Artabazus joined forces with the Athenian commander Chares and defeated them in 355 BC, but Artaxerxes pressured Athens to stop supporting him by threat of war. Artabazus later allied with the Theban general Pammenes with 5,000 soldiers in 354 BC, but after further defeats on the Persians, Artabazus fell out with Pammenes, arrested him, and in 354/3 BC fled to Macedonia, where he was well received by Philip II.

Reader's Guide

Artaxerxes III's first Egyptian campaign around 351 BC failed. After a year of fighting, Pharaoh Nectanebo II inflicted a crushing defeat on the Persians with the support of mercenaries led by the Athenian Diophantus and the Spartan Lamius. Artaxerxes was compelled to retreat. Soon after, Phoenicia, Anatolia, and Cyprus declared independence. In 343 BC, Artaxerxes committed the suppression of the Cyprian rebels to Idrieus, prince of Caria, who employed 8,000 Greek mercenaries and forty triremes and succeeded in reducing Cyprus. Against Sidon, Artaxerxes first sent the satraps Belesys and Mazaeus, but they suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the Sidonese king Tennes, aided by 4,000 Greek mercenaries from Nectanebo II commanded by Mentor of Rhodes. Artaxerxes then personally led an army of 330,000 men—300,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, 300 triremes, and 500 transports—against Sidon. He obtained a thousand Theban heavy-armed hoplites under Lacrates, three thousand Argives under Nicostratus, and six thousand Æolians, Ionians, and Dorians from Greek cities of Anatolia. Tennes, weakened in resolve, delivered up 100 principal citizens and admitted Artaxerxes within the defences. Artaxerxes had the 100 transfixed with javelins, and when 500 more came out as supplicants, he consigned them to the same fate. Tennes was later put to death. Artaxerxes sent Jews who supported the revolt to Hyrcania. Probably in 340 or 339 BC, Artaxerxes finally reconquered Egypt. He assembled a large host including Greek mercenaries from Thebes, Argos, Asia Minor, and those commanded by the turncoat Mentor of Rhodes, as well as a war fleet and transport ships. The invasion started poorly, with troops lost to quicksand at Barathra and a failed attempt by Theban troops to take Pelusium. Artaxerxes then created three divisions of shock troops, each with a Greek commander and a Persian supervisor, while remaining himself in command of the reserves. One unit with Thebans, cavalry, and Asiatic infantry was tasked with taking Pelusium; a second under Mentor and the eunuch Bagoas was sent against Bubastis; the third comprising the Argives and others was assigned elsewhere.

Did You Know?

• Artaxerxes III's personal name was Ochus (Greek: Ὦχος; Babylonian: Ú-ma-kuš).
• He murdered all of the royal family soon after becoming king to secure his place.
• His first Egyptian campaign failed after Pharaoh Nectanebo II inflicted a crushing defeat with Greek mercenaries led by Diophantus and Lamius.
• He began long-term building projects at Persepolis including a new palace, his own tomb, and the Unfinished Gate.