ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Xerxes I: The Fifth Grand King of the Achaemenid Empire

Xerxes I was the fifth Grand King of the Quémenid Empire, ruling from 486 BC to his assassination in 465 BC. He was the son of Darius I and Atosa, a daughter of Cyrus II the Great.

Scholars often identify Xerxes with Ahasuerus, a character in Esther's book, which is considered by some scholars to be a historical romance. However, there is no clear consensus on what historical event inspired this account. Despite this uncertainty, it is known that Xerxes was appointed successor to Darius I before his elder brothers and was crowned in October 486 BC.

Xerxes' early reign was marked by several significant events. He faced a rebellion in Egypt, which began the same year he ascended to the throne. His brother Abemenes was left as a statesman in that region, under Xerxes' repressive control. This was not an isolated incident; his predecessors had struggled to reconcile ancient civilizations with the Persian government. As a result, Xerxes definitively abolished the kingdom of Babylon in 484 BC and took its golden statue of Bel, killing the priests who tried to prevent him.

This move sparked two rebellions, one in 484 BC and another in 479 BC, both of which were strongly suppressed. After these uprisings were quelled, Xerxes encouraged his cousin Mardonius to avenge his father's defeat at Marathon during the First Persian War (490 BC). Darius had not been able to achieve victory in this battle.

The Invasion of Greece

Xerxes' most famous exploit was his invasion of Greece in 480 BC. He led a large army across the Hellespont into Europe, fearing that the Greeks might trap him on the continent. To mitigate this risk, Xerxes withdrew with most of his army back to Asia, leaving behind Mardonius to continue the campaign.

Mardonius was defeated at Plataea the following year, ending the Persian invasion. After returning to Persia, Xerxes devoted himself to large construction projects, many of which had been left unfinished by his father. These projects included roads, bridges, and buildings that showcased the empire's wealth and power.

Assassination

Xerxes' reign was cut short when he and his heir Darius were assassinated in 465 BC by Artabanus