Achaemenid dynasty
The Achaemenid dynasty (Old Persian: 𐏃𐎧𐎠𐎶𐎴𐎡𐏁𐎡𐎹 Haxāmanišyaʰ; Persian: هخامنشی Haxâmaneši; Ancient Greek: Ἀχαιμενίδαι Achaimenidai; Latin: Achaemenides)[1] was an ancient Persian royal dynasty that ruled the Achaemenid Empire, an Iranian empire that stretched from Egypt and Southeastern Europe in the west to the Indus Valley in the east.[2][3][4]
| House of Achaemenes 𐏃𐎧𐎠𐎶𐎴𐎡𐏁𐎡𐎹 | |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Persis |
| Founded | 705 BCE |
| Founder | Achaemenes (traditional) |
| Final ruler | Darius III |
| Titles | Shah of PersiaKing of BabylonPharaoh of Egypt |
| Estate(s) | Achaemenid Persian Empire |
| Dissolution | 330 BCE |
| Cadet branches | |
Origins
The history of the Achaemenid dynasty is mainly known through Greek historians such as Herodotus, Ctesias, and Xenophon; the Hebrew Bible and other Jewish religious texts; and native Iranian sources. According to Herodotus, the Achaemenids were a clan from the tribe of the Pasargadae and probably settled surrounding the site of Pasargadae. They possibly ruled over other Persian tribes in the 9th century BCE.
Darius the Great traced his genealogy to Achaemenes, an unknown lineage named after Haxāmaniš. However, there is no evidence for a king called Achaemenes.[5]
Dynasty
Kingship was hereditary within the Achaemenid dynasty. The last element of the King of Kings' title was always "an Achaemenid".[citation needed] Succession was designated by the King of Kings, and was usually the first-born son. From Darius I to Artaxerxes II, it was usually a synarchy between the father and the son.[5]
| King | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Achaemenes | 705–650 BCE | Founder of the Achaemenid dynasty |
| Teispes | 650–625 BCE | |
| Cyrus I | 625–580 BCE | |
| Cambyses I | 580–559 BCE | |
| Cyrus II | 559–530 BCE | Cyrus the Great; founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire |
| Cambyses II | 530–522 BCE | Egypt is conquered at the Battle of Pelusium, thus adding Pharaoh of Egypt to the royal Persian titles |
| Bardiya | 522 BCE | Might have been an impostor named Gaumāta during his short reign |
| Darius I | 522–486 BCE | Achaemenid Empire reaches its greatest extent; initial foray into Greece |
| Xerxes I | 486–465 BCE | Launched failed invasion of Greece |
| Artaxerxes I | 465–424 BCE | |
| Xerxes II | 424 BCE | |
| Sogdianus | 424–423 BCE | Illegitimate son of Artaxerxes I |
| Darius II | 423–404 BCE | |
| Artaxerxes II | 404–358 BCE | Persia loses Egypt |
| Artaxerxes III | 358–338 BCE | Persia regains Egypt |
| Artaxerxes IV | 338–336 BCE | |
| Darius III | 336–330 BCE | Defeated by Alexander of Macedon; Greeks conquer Achaemenid Persia; dynasty falls |
| Artaxerxes V | 330–329 BCE | Attempted to lead resistance against Alexander; captured and executed |
Family tree
| Achaemenes King of Persia[*] 705–675 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teispes King of Persia 675–640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ariaramnes Prince[*] | Cyrus I King of Persia 640–600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arsames Prince[*] | Cambyses I King of Persia 600–559 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hystaspes Prince[*] | Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) King of Persia 559–530/28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darius the Great (Darius I) King of Persia 522–486 | Atossa Princess | Cambyses II King of Persia 530–522 | Smerdis (Bardiya) | Artystone Princess | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xerxes the Great (Xerxes I) King of Persia 485–465 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artaxerxes I King of Persia 465–424 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xerxes II King of Persia 424 | Sogdianus King of Persia 424–423 | Darius II King of Persia 423–404 | Arsites Prince | Parysatis Princess | Bagapaios Prince | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artaxerxes II King of Persia 404–358 | Amestris Princess | Cyrus the Younger Prince | Cyrus (IV) Prince | Ostanes Prince | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artaxerxes III King of Persia 358–338 | Ocha Prince | Rodrogune Princess | Apama Princess | Sisygambis Princess | Arsames (II) Prince | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artaxerxes IV King of Persia 338–336 | Parysatis (II) Princess | Darius III King of Persia 336–330 | Oxathres Prince | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artaxerxes V King of Persia 330–329 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stateira II Princess | Alexander the Great (Alexander III) King of Macedon and Persia 329–323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ Kuhrt & Sancisi-Weerdenburg 2006.
- ^ . www.iranicaonline.org. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- ^ Bresciani, Edda (1998). "EGYPT i. Persians in Egypt in the Achaemenid period". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol VIII, Fasc. 3. pp. 247–249.
- ^ Eusebius. Chronicle. p. 149.
- ^ a b "ACHAEMENID DYNASTY – Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
Sources
- Kuhrt, Amélie; Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (2006). "Achaemenids". In Salazar, Christine F.; Landfester, Manfred; Gentry, Francis G. (eds.). Brill’s New Pauly. Brill Online.