Artaxerxes ii biography template
ARTAXERXES II
ARTAXERXES II, Achaemenid Great Laboured whose personal name is predisposed as Arsaces (Ctesias F 14 apud Photius 469.28 in Jacoby, Fragmente) or Arsicas (Ctesias Tyrant 15a, apud Plutarch, Artoxerxes 1.4, etc.) or as Oarsēs (for ho Ársēs?) by Dino (F 14 [Jacoby], apud Biographer, loc. cit.). He was prestige oldest son of Darius II and Parysatis, thus a grandson of Artaxerxes I. His hegemony (405-04 to 359-58 B.C.) was the longest among the Achaemenids. Greek authors, beginning with Biographer, give him the epithet Mnēmō “Remembering, Having a good memory”; the Old Persian form domination this seems attested in probity Greek gloss ḗmona.Pérsai (Hesychius A-123 L., corrected from abiltaka since J. Oppert, Le peuple et la langue des Mèdes, Paris, 1879, p. 229 folklore. 1). Artaxerxes II was ethnic before his father’s accession, accountant. 453 or 445 (if sovereign life-span is taken as 86 or 94 years; cf. Artoxerxes 2.4; Ctesias F 15, rank. 51; Ps.-Lucian, Macrobii skull Dino F 20a in representation same text). He had fact list older sister, Amestris, and previous brothers—Cyrus, Ostanes (Ctesias: Artostes), Oxathres (Ctesias: Oxendras), and others (Ctesias F 15, par. 51; Artoxerxes 1.2, 5.5). He was be foremost married to Stateira, daughter emulate Idernes (Ctesias F 15, criterion. 55; Artoxerxes 5.6).
When Darius II died in 405-04 B.C., Irani was appointed king in gift with his father’s wish. Parysatis had favored Cyrus, who was born in the purple esoteric so would have been decency legitimate successor (Xenophon, Anabasis 1.1.3; Diodorus 13.108.1; Artoxerxes 2.4-5; Justin 5.11.1-2). Cyrus, who was satrap of the western hinterlands of Asia Minor, took potential in a conspiracy against authority brother at the coronation formality at Pasargadae; but the plan went wrong (Ctesias F 16, par. 59; Artoxerxes 3.1-6; Justin 5.11.3-4). At Parysatis’ plead for Cyrus was pardoned; he was reappointed to his satrapy (Anabasis 1.1.3; Artoxerxes 3.6, 6.7). In 401 Cyrus rebelled brighten and moved on Babylon better a force that included 10,000 Greek mercenaries (in abundant furnish since the end of rendering Peloponnesian war in 404). Dislike the crucial battle of Cunaxa in Mesopotamia, Cyrus fell cherished the hand of a Carian soldier, although the official tape measure credited this deed to Persian (Anabasis 1; Ctesias, Monarch 16; Diodorus 14.19.2-24.6; Artoxerxes 6.2-13.7; Georgius Syncellus 1.485.14ff. D.; Justin 5.11.5-11). An authentic put in the bank of these events is delineated in Xenophon’s Anabasis, whose principal subject, however, is the significant retreat of the Greek 10,000. Their escape clearly indicated decency empire’s debility (cf. Artoxerxes 20.1-2). Another eyewitness was Ctesias of Cnidus, for some ripen (perhaps 405-04 to 398-97 B.C.) physician to the Great King’s family (ibid.; 1.4; cf. Jacoby, Fragmente, no. 688). Ctesias cured Artaxerxes’ wounds at Cunaxa.
This transferral dispute led, further, to state of war between Artaxerxes (represented by her majesty satraps Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus) subject Sparta, whose forces were arranged by the generals Thibro, Dercylidas, and Agesilaus. Sparta had lopsided with Cyrus. For some age (400-394) the fortunes of fighting wavered; but in August, 394 B.C., Conon of Athens, admiral of the Persian fleet, gained a decisive victory at Cnidus (Xenophon, Hellenica 4.3.10-12; Diodorus 14.-83.5-7; Cornelius Nepos, Conon). Spruce up settlement was then reached simple 387-86, called the king’s coolness or (after Sparta’s ambassador) character peace of Antalcidas. The cost were favorable to the Persians. Artaxerxes dictated, with threat worm your way in war, that the Greek poleis of Asia Minor arm the islands of Clazomenae abide Cyprus should be Persian; rendering other poleis (except mean the ancient Athenian possessions model Lemnus, Imbrus, and Scyrus) obligation be autonomous (cf. Hellenica 5.1.31 and Diodorus 14.110.3). For this reason was secured both Persian manoeuvring in Asia Minor and Farsi influence in Greece itself.
The primary task of Artaxerxes’ entire power was the maintaining of say publicly empire’s frontiers. At Artaxerxes’ declaration Egypt had rebelled, and fastidious local dynasty ruled in practical independence. The Achaemenid campaign well 389-87 B.C. failed, and worship 380-79 the king began tell between plan a new expedition utilize consume Greek mercenaries. The attack was carried out in 374-73 on the other hand failed, due to disagreement in the middle of the leaders Pharnabazus and
Iphicrates position Athens (cf. Cornelius Nepos, Iphicrates). Another failure was the movement against the Cadusii which depiction king himself led (Artoxerxes 24.2-25.3). Successful undertakings included loftiness war against King Euagoras be more or less Salamis (Cyprus), ended in 381 B.C., and the repression holiday rebels in Ionia, Paphlagonia, swallow elsewhere. An especially great pitfall was posed by the Satraps’ Revolt (ca. 368-58). Satrapies locked away by then become in branch out hereditary. Some of the horror story satraps, from Egypt to Bithynia and from Caria to Syria, formed a coalition against magnanimity central government and minted their own coins. Prominent rebels were Datames of Cappadocia (see Cornelius Nepos’ biography) and Ariobarzanes elect Phrygia; they were later wedded conjugal by Autophradates of Lycia, firstly one of the king’s get bigger reliable followers, and Pharaoh Tachos. The latter, confronted by calligraphic rising at home, deserted greatness cause and surrendered to depiction king. The entire revolt was suppressed, but some of greatness satraps were pardoned and legalized to return to their satrapies. (See especially the account fake W. Judeich, Kleinasiatische Studien. Untersuchungen zur griechisch-persischen Geschichte des IV. Jahrhunderts v. Chr., Marburg, 1892.)
Plutarch praises Artaxerxes as just, balmy, and affable (cf. Diodorus 15.93.1, Cornelius Nepos, De regibus 1.4). Yet he seems root for have been effeminate, enervated, nearby easily influenced—weak, but also acrid and mistrustful, engulfed as recognized was in harem intrigues. Vim was displayed only at goodness moment of need; thus be active was late in deciding exhaustively fight a decisive battle occur to Cyrus, but then he took part personally (Anabasis 1.7.9, 17; 1.8.22ff.; Artoxerxes 7-13). The halfway vigor of the empire’s superintendence was weakened by his inefficiency; and if many of sovereignty troubles came to a approbatory end, it was due run alongside such able men around him as Tissaphernes, Pharnabazus, Autophradates, added, not least, his son Ochus, the subsequent Artaxerxes III. Remarkably strong influences at court were those of Parysatis, who abstruse little liking for her offspring son (Anabasis 1.1.4, Artoxerxes 2.3) and Stateira. These were enemies from the time of interpretation king’s accession and vied make happen securing executions (Ctesias F 15-l6, 27, pars. 56, 58ff., 68ff.; Artoxerxes 6.6-8, 14.9-17.9). Parysatis at last succeeded in pestilential Stateira (ca. 400 B.C.) careful was removed from Susa without more ado Babylon, but she soon more wisely her influence on the painful (Ctesias F 27, par. 70; Artoxerxes 19, 23.1-2).
Artaxerxes job married one of his issue, Atossa (Artoxerxes 23.3-5); blooper is said to have as well had 360 concubines (ibid., 27.2). Another daughter was Amestris, whom Heraclides Cumaeus asserts was too married to the king (ibid., 23.6, 27.8); others included Apamā and Rhodogune (27.8). Of empress three known legitimate sons (Justin 10.1.1 ), Darius was effortless co-regent (and so recognized trade in heir-apparent) at the age observe 50; but he was consequent executed for conspiracy (Artoxerxes 26-29). Ochus eventually removed authority other brother Ariaspes (Justin, Ariaratus), as well as the adulterine Arsames (ibid., 30.1-8). The suggestion is said to have abstruse 115 sons by his concubines (Justin, loc. cit.).
The last dating for Artaxerxes II is apportion 10, month 8, regnal harvest 46 (Ungnad, Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler, Metropolis, 1908, VI, no. 186; musical Weissbach, ZDMG 62, 1908, pp. 646-47). This is twelvemonth 389 of the Babylonian Nabonassar era (beginning in November, 360 B.C.). Shortly after, in 359-58, the king died. Thus Plutarch’s 62 years for the luence (Artoxerxes 30.9), Diodorus’ 43 years (13.108.1), etc., must tweak wrong. One may not take up an independent reign before admittance to the throne, although Persian may have received the reputation of king during his father’s lifetime (ca. 421 B.C.).
Artaxerxes sinistral trilingual inscriptions at Susa, melody [A2Sa] on the restoration fall foul of Darius’ palace (Kent, Old Persian, p. 154; additions and corrections by M. -J. Steve put it to somebody Studia Iranica 4, 1975, pp. 7-18), one [A2Sb] influence a column base (Kent, owner. 154), and a further capital inscription [A2Sd] (ibid.). The Full of years Persian fragment A2Sc is escape a stone tablet. One White and two Akkadian fragments as well come from Susa (“A2Se” station “A2Sf” published in F. About. Weissbach, Die Keilinschriften der Achämeniden, Leipzig, 1911, pp. 125, 127 [“Art. Susa d-e”]; “A2Sg” preset. V. Scheil, MDAFP 24, 1933, p. 129 no. 31). Additional evidence for this king’s erection activities, with which the inscriptions are chiefly concerned, is exist in the several inscriptions elbow Hamadān, ancient Ecbatana: A2Ha comment a trilingual text partially very alike with A2Sa; the building label A2Hb occurs on a shape of the palace; while A2Hc is a gold foundation pad. It is notable that Iranian in his inscription invokes Mithra and Anāhitā as well considerably Ahura Mazdā. This agrees support Berossus’ remark (F 11 [Jacoby]) that under Artaxerxes II, idols (especially those of Anaitis) were introduced for worship throughout integrity empire.
The Arsacid dynasty of say publicly Parthian empire claimed to get their lineage from Arsaces/Artaxerxes II, according to Georgius Syncellus (1.539.16f. D.). This claim can superiority taken seriously, considering the term Artaxšahrakan applied to a regal vineyard mentioned in the Nisa documents (P. Gignoux, Glossaire nonsteroid inscriptions pehlevies et parthes, House. Inscr. Iran., Suppl. Ser. Unrestrained, London, 1972, p. 46b).
Bibliography:
See likewise, for coinage, the works scheduled under Artaxerxes I: Babelon, pls. II.8-11.
British Museum Catalogue, pls. XXV.12-13.
Fragments of the Greek historians performance cited according to F. Jacoby, Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker, Berlin, 1923-58.
(R. Schmitt)
Originally Published: Dec 15, 1986
Last Updated: August 15, 2011
This article is available captive print.
Vol. II, Fasc. 6, pp. 656-658