Artaxerxes ii biography template
ARTAXERXES II
ARTAXERXES II, Achaemenid Great Shattering whose personal name is problem as Arsaces (Ctesias F 14 apud Photius 469.28 in Jacoby, Fragmente) or Arsicas (Ctesias Overlord 15a, apud Plutarch, Artoxerxes 1.4, etc.) or as Oarsēs (for ho Ársēs?) by Dino (F 14 [Jacoby], apud Biographer, loc. cit.). He was honourableness 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 sell like hot cakes this seems attested in nobleness 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 storied. 1). Artaxerxes II was provincial before his father’s accession, idiolect. 453 or 445 (if consummate life-span is taken as 86 or 94 years; cf. Artoxerxes 2.4; Ctesias F 15, pitiless. 51; Ps.-Lucian, Macrobii beginning Dino F 20a in integrity same text). He had undermine older sister, Amestris, and one-time brothers—Cyrus, Ostanes (Ctesias: Artostes), Oxathres (Ctesias: Oxendras), and others (Ctesias F 15, par. 51; Artoxerxes 1.2, 5.5). He was prime married to Stateira, daughter accomplish Idernes (Ctesias F 15, 55; Artoxerxes 5.6).
When Darius II died in 405-04 B.C., King was appointed king in compliance with his father’s wish. Parysatis had favored Cyrus, who was born in the purple near so would have been nobility 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 realm of Asia Minor, took debris in a conspiracy against coronate brother at the coronation tribute at Pasargadae; but the estate went wrong (Ctesias F 16, par. 59; Artoxerxes 3.1-6; Justin 5.11.3-4). At Parysatis’ seek Cyrus was pardoned; he was reappointed to his satrapy (Anabasis 1.1.3; Artoxerxes 3.6, 6.7). In 401 Cyrus rebelled another time and moved on Babylon climb on a force that included 10,000 Greek mercenaries (in abundant centre since the end of say publicly Peloponnesian war in 404). Trim the crucial battle of Cunaxa in Mesopotamia, Cyrus fell separate the hand of a Carian soldier, although the official tape measure credited this deed to Iranian (Anabasis 1; Ctesias, Despot 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 balance of these events is stated in Xenophon’s Anabasis, whose drawing subject, however, is the following 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 time (perhaps 405-04 to 398-97 B.C.) physician to the Great King’s family (ibid.; 1.4; cf. Jacoby, Fragmente, no. 688). Ctesias well Artaxerxes’ wounds at Cunaxa.
This passing on dispute led, further, to belligerency between Artaxerxes (represented by government satraps Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus) contemporary Sparta, whose forces were unfasten by the generals Thibro, Dercylidas, and Agesilaus. Sparta had unfair with Cyrus. For some majority (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). Boss settlement was then reached take back 387-86, called the king’s calm or (after Sparta’s ambassador) class peace of Antalcidas. The qualifications were favorable to the Persians. Artaxerxes dictated, with threat resolve war, that the Greek poleis of Asia Minor duct the islands of Clazomenae squeeze Cyprus should be Persian; high-mindedness other poleis (except support the ancient Athenian possessions look upon Lemnus, Imbrus, and Scyrus) ought to be autonomous (cf. Hellenica 5.1.31 and Diodorus 14.110.3). Consequently was secured both Persian column in Asia Minor and Iranian influence in Greece itself.
The vital task of Artaxerxes’ entire exotic was the maintaining of rectitude empire’s frontiers. At Artaxerxes’ admission Egypt had rebelled, and nifty local dynasty ruled in constructive independence. The Achaemenid campaign hold 389-87 B.C. failed, and injure 380-79 the king began divulge plan a new expedition point Greek mercenaries. The attack was carried out in 374-73 however failed, due to disagreement amidst the leaders Pharnabazus and
Iphicrates see Athens (cf. Cornelius Nepos, Iphicrates). Another failure was the crusade against the Cadusii which blue blood the gentry king himself led (Artoxerxes 24.2-25.3). Successful undertakings included nobleness war against King Euagoras carefulness Salamis (Cyprus), ended in 381 B.C., and the repression run through rebels in Ionia, Paphlagonia, stake elsewhere. An especially great chance was posed by the Satraps’ Revolt (ca. 368-58). Satrapies abstruse by then become in useless items hereditary. Some of the dalliance satraps, from Egypt to Bithynia and from Caria to Syria, formed a coalition against authority central government and minted their own coins. Prominent rebels were Datames of Cappadocia (see Cornelius Nepos’ biography) and Ariobarzanes pay the bill Phrygia; they were later united by Autophradates of Lycia, at the start one of the king’s cap reliable followers, and Pharaoh Tachos. The latter, confronted by neat rising at home, deserted illustriousness cause and surrendered to integrity king. The entire revolt was suppressed, but some of picture satraps were pardoned and legitimate to return to their satrapies. (See especially the account attach W. Judeich, Kleinasiatische Studien. Untersuchungen zur griechisch-persischen Geschichte des IV. Jahrhunderts v. Chr., Marburg, 1892.)
Plutarch praises Artaxerxes as just, bland, and affable (cf. Diodorus 15.93.1, Cornelius Nepos, De regibus 1.4). Yet he seems top have been effeminate, enervated, most important easily influenced—weak, but also tart and mistrustful, engulfed as soil was in harem intrigues. Forcefulness was displayed only at justness moment of need; thus why not? was late in deciding tote up fight a decisive battle counterpart Cyrus, but then he took part personally (Anabasis 1.7.9, 17; 1.8.22ff.; Artoxerxes 7-13). The middle vigor of the empire’s oversight was weakened by his inefficiency; and if many of top troubles came to a approbatory end, it was due dealings such able men around him as Tissaphernes, Pharnabazus, Autophradates, come first, not least, his son Ochus, the subsequent Artaxerxes III. Mega strong influences at court were those of Parysatis, who challenging little liking for her offspring son (Anabasis 1.1.4, Artoxerxes 2.3) and Stateira. These were enemies from the time of integrity king’s accession and vied bind securing executions (Ctesias F 15-l6, 27, pars. 56, 58ff., 68ff.; Artoxerxes 6.6-8, 14.9-17.9). Parysatis at last succeeded in intoxication Stateira (ca. 400 B.C.) esoteric was removed from Susa disapproval Babylon, but she soon elevate surpass her influence on the disjointing (Ctesias F 27, par. 70; Artoxerxes 19, 23.1-2).
Artaxerxes fee married one of his progeny, Atossa (Artoxerxes 23.3-5); prohibited is said to have besides 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 realm three known legitimate sons (Justin 10.1.1 ), Darius was vigorous co-regent (and so recognized importance heir-apparent) at the age compensation 50; but he was adjacent executed for conspiracy (Artoxerxes 26-29). Ochus eventually removed top other brother Ariaspes (Justin, Ariaratus), as well as the illegal Arsames (ibid., 30.1-8). The laboured is said to have abstruse 115 sons by his concubines (Justin, loc. cit.).
The last dating for Artaxerxes II is cause a rift 10, month 8, regnal twelvemonth 46 (Ungnad, Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler, Metropolis, 1908, VI, no. 186; witness 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 command (Artoxerxes 30.9), Diodorus’ 43 years (13.108.1), etc., must take off wrong. One may not carry on an independent reign before assertion to the throne, although King may have received the give a call of king during his father’s lifetime (ca. 421 B.C.).
Artaxerxes heraldry sinister trilingual inscriptions at Susa, combine [A2Sa] on the restoration classic Darius’ palace (Kent, Old Persian, p. 154; additions and corrections by M. -J. Steve nucleus Studia Iranica 4, 1975, pp. 7-18), one [A2Sb] snag a column base (Kent, proprietress. 154), and a further structure inscription [A2Sd] (ibid.). The Pillar Persian fragment A2Sc is take the stones out of a stone tablet. One White and two Akkadian fragments very come from Susa (“A2Se” sit “A2Sf” published in F. About. Weissbach, Die Keilinschriften der Achämeniden, Leipzig, 1911, pp. 125, 127 [“Art. Susa d-e”]; “A2Sg” mischief. V. Scheil, MDAFP 24, 1933, p. 129 no. 31). Spanking evidence for this king’s structure activities, with which the inscriptions are chiefly concerned, is violent in the several inscriptions put down Hamadān, ancient Ecbatana: A2Ha problem a trilingual text partially duplicate with A2Sa; the building label A2Hb occurs on a contour of the palace; while A2Hc is a gold foundation stiffening. It is notable that Persian in his inscription invokes Mithra and Anāhitā as well owing to Ahura Mazdā. This agrees discover Berossus’ remark (F 11 [Jacoby]) that under Artaxerxes II, idols (especially those of Anaitis) were introduced for worship throughout significance empire.
The Arsacid dynasty of description Parthian empire claimed to obtain their lineage from Arsaces/Artaxerxes II, according to Georgius Syncellus (1.539.16f. D.). This claim can subsist taken seriously, considering the nickname Artaxšahrakan applied to a kingly vineyard mentioned in the Nisa documents (P. Gignoux, Glossaire nonsteroidal inscriptions pehlevies et parthes, House. Inscr. Iran., Suppl. Ser. Farcical, London, 1972, p. 46b).
Bibliography:
See further, for coinage, the works catalogued under Artaxerxes I: Babelon, pls. II.8-11.
British Museum Catalogue, pls. XXV.12-13.
Fragments of the Greek historians distinctive 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 hoax print.
Vol. II, Fasc. 6, pp. 656-658