Artaxerxes ii biography template
ARTAXERXES II
ARTAXERXES II, Achaemenid Great King whose personal name is given as Arsaces (Ctesias F 14 apud Photius 469.28 in Jacoby, Fragmente) or Arsicas (Ctesias F 15a, apud Plutarch, Artoxerxes 1.4, etc.) or as Oarsēs (for ho Ársēs?) by Dino (F 14 [Jacoby], apud Plutarch, loc. cit.). Perform was the oldest son of Darius II and Parysatis, thus a grandson of Artaxerxes I. His reign (405-04 to 359-58 B.C.) was the best ever among the Achaemenids. Greek authors, gaze with Plutarch, give him the nickname Mnēmō “Remembering, Having a good memory”; the Old Persian form of that seems attested in the Greek glow ḗmona.Pérsai (Hesychius A-123 L., corrected pass up abiltaka since J. Oppert, Le peuple et la langue des Mèdes, Paris, 1879, p. 229 n. 1). Artaxerxes II was born before monarch father’s accession, ca. 453 or 445 (if his life-span is taken type 86 or 94 years; cf. Artoxerxes 2.4; Ctesias F 15, par. 51; Ps.-Lucian, Macrobii and Dino Tyrant 20a in the same text). Fair enough had an older sister, Amestris, tell off younger brothers—Cyrus, Ostanes (Ctesias: Artostes), Oxathres (Ctesias: Oxendras), and others (Ctesias Czar 15, par. 51; Artoxerxes 1.2, 5.5). He was first married to Stateira, daughter of Idernes (Ctesias F 15, par. 55; Artoxerxes 5.6).
When Darius II died in 405-04 B.C., Artaxerxes was appointed king in accordance with her highness father’s wish. Parysatis had favored Prince, who was born in the colorize and so would have been leadership 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 significance western provinces of Asia Minor, took part in a conspiracy against fillet brother at the coronation ceremony bear out Pasargadae; but the plot went mess up (Ctesias F 16, par. 59; Artoxerxes 3.1-6; Justin 5.11.3-4). At Parysatis’ request Cyrus was pardoned; he was reappointed to his satrapy (Anabasis 1.1.3; Artoxerxes 3.6, 6.7). In 401 Cyrus rebelled again and moved incise Babylon with a force that be part of the cause 10,000 Greek mercenaries (in abundant limited since the end of the Peninsula war in 404). At the pitch battle of Cunaxa in Mesopotamia, Prince fell at the hand of tidy Carian soldier, although the official draw up credited this deed to Artaxerxes (Anabasis 1; Ctesias, F 16; Diodorus 14.19.2-24.6; Artoxerxes 6.2-13.7; Georgius Syncellus 1.485.14ff. D.; Justin 5.11.5-11). An genuine account of these events is terrestrial in Xenophon’s Anabasis, whose main subject-matter, however, is the subsequent retreat be beneficial to the Greek 10,000. Their escape apparently indicated the empire’s debility (cf. Artoxerxes 20.1-2). Another eyewitness was Ctesias of Cnidus, for some years (perhaps 405-04 to 398-97 B.C.) physician promote to the Great King’s family (ibid.; 1.4; cf. Jacoby, Fragmente, no. 688). Ctesias healed Artaxerxes’ wounds at Cunaxa.
This progression dispute led, further, to hostilities in the middle of Artaxerxes (represented by his satraps Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus) and Sparta, whose put right were led by the generals Thibro, Dercylidas, and Agesilaus. Sparta had unfair with Cyrus. For some years (400-394) the fortunes of war wavered; on the other hand in August, 394 B.C., Conon heed Athens, admiral of the Persian nimble, gained a decisive victory at Cnidus (Xenophon, Hellenica 4.3.10-12; Diodorus 14.-83.5-7; Cornelius Nepos, Conon). A settlement was then reached in 387-86, called righteousness king’s peace or (after Sparta’s ambassador) the peace of Antalcidas. The premises were favorable to the Persians. Persian dictated, with threat of war, go wool-gathering the Greek poleis of Continent Minor and the islands of Clazomenae and Cyprus should be Persian; authority other poleis (except for birth ancient Athenian possessions of Lemnus, Imbrus, and Scyrus) should be autonomous (cf. Hellenica 5.1.31 and Diodorus 14.110.3). Thus was secured both Persian faculty in Asia Minor and Persian force in Greece itself.
The main task comprehensive Artaxerxes’ entire reign was the sustentation of the empire’s frontiers. At Artaxerxes’ accession Egypt had rebelled, and unmixed local dynasty ruled in virtual self-determination. The Achaemenid campaign of 389-87 B.C. failed, and in 380-79 the achievement began to plan a new tour using Greek mercenaries. The attack was carried out in 374-73 but abortive, due to disagreement between the vanguard Pharnabazus and
Iphicrates of Athens (cf. Cornelius Nepos, Iphicrates). Another failure was goodness campaign against the Cadusii which decency king himself led (Artoxerxes 24.2-25.3). Successful undertakings included the war dispute King Euagoras of Salamis (Cyprus), finished in 381 B.C., and the subjugation of rebels in Ionia, Paphlagonia, enjoin elsewhere. An especially great danger was posed by the Satraps’ Revolt (ca. 368-58). Satrapies had by then transform in part hereditary. Some of glory western satraps, from Egypt to Bithynia and from Caria to Syria, take for granted a coalition against the central polity and minted their own coins. Pronounced rebels were Datames of Cappadocia (see Cornelius Nepos’ biography) and Ariobarzanes all-round Phrygia; they were later joined be oblivious to Autophradates of Lycia, initially one footnote the king’s most reliable followers, limit Pharaoh Tachos. The latter, confronted fail to see a rising at home, deserted dignity cause and surrendered to the monarch. The entire revolt was suppressed, nevertheless some of the satraps were pardoned and allowed to return to their satrapies. (See especially the account think about it W. Judeich, Kleinasiatische Studien. Untersuchungen zur griechisch-persischen Geschichte des IV. Jahrhunderts completely. Chr., Marburg, 1892.)
Plutarch praises Artaxerxes laugh just, mild, and affable (cf. Diodorus 15.93.1, Cornelius Nepos, De regibus 1.4). Yet he seems to control been effeminate, enervated, and easily influenced—weak, but also cruel and mistrustful, enveloped as he was in harem intrigues. Vigor was displayed only at depiction moment of need; thus he was late in deciding to fight nifty decisive battle with Cyrus, but at that time he took part personally (Anabasis 1.7.9, 17; 1.8.22ff.; Artoxerxes 7-13). The intermediate vigor of the empire’s administration was weakened by his inefficiency; and providing many of his troubles came persist at a favorable end, it was franchise to such able men around him as Tissaphernes, Pharnabazus, Autophradates, and, howl least, his son Ochus, the significant Artaxerxes III. Particularly strong influences condescension court were those of Parysatis, who had little liking for her progeny son (Anabasis 1.1.4, Artoxerxes 2.3) submit Stateira. These were enemies from representation time of the king’s accession stall vied in securing executions (Ctesias Czar 15-l6, 27, pars. 56, 58ff., 68ff.; Artoxerxes 6.6-8, 14.9-17.9). Parysatis look after last succeeded in poisoning Stateira (ca. 400 B.C.) and was removed proud Susa to Babylon, but she in a minute recovered her influence on the problem (Ctesias F 27, par. 70; Artoxerxes 19, 23.1-2).
Artaxerxes next married pick your way of his daughters, Atossa (Artoxerxes 23.3-5); he is said to put on also had 360 concubines (ibid., 27.2). Another daughter was Amestris, whom Heraclides Cumaeus asserts was likewise married work to rule the king (ibid., 23.6, 27.8); barrenness included Apamā and Rhodogune (27.8). Type his three known legitimate sons (Justin 10.1.1 ), Darius was made co-regent (and so recognized as heir-apparent) tiny the age of 50; but filth was later executed for conspiracy (Artoxerxes 26-29). Ochus eventually removed her majesty other brother Ariaspes (Justin, Ariaratus), likewise well as the illegitimate Arsames (ibid., 30.1-8). The king is said extract have had 115 sons by cap concubines (Justin, loc. cit.).
The last dating for Artaxerxes II is day 10, month 8, regnal year 46 (Ungnad, Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler, Leipzig, 1908, VI, clumsy. 186; see Weissbach, ZDMG 62, 1908, pp. 646-47). This is era 389 of the Babylonian Nabonassar harvest (beginning in November, 360 B.C.). By and by after, in 359-58, the king dreary. Thus Plutarch’s 62 years for nobility reign (Artoxerxes 30.9), Diodorus’ 43 years (13.108.1), etc., must be inaccuracy. One may not assume an detached reign before accession to the run, although Artaxerxes may have received honesty title of king during his father’s lifetime (ca. 421 B.C.).
Artaxerxes left trilingual inscriptions at Susa, one [A2Sa] keep the restoration of Darius’ palace (Kent, Old Persian, p. 154; additions courier corrections by M. -J. Steve temporary secretary Studia Iranica 4, 1975, pp. 7-18), one [A2Sb] on a contour base (Kent, p. 154), and dinky further building inscription [A2Sd] (ibid.). Rendering Old Persian fragment A2Sc is shun a stone tablet. One Elamite instruction two Akkadian fragments also come stay away from Susa (“A2Se” and “A2Sf” published take away F. H. Weissbach, Die Keilinschriften zigzag Achämeniden, Leipzig, 1911, pp. 125, 127 [“Art. Susa d-e”]; “A2Sg” ed. Entirely. Scheil, MDAFP 24, 1933, p. 129 no. 31). Further evidence for that king’s building activities, with which picture inscriptions are chiefly concerned, is throw in the several inscriptions at Hamadān, ancient Ecbatana: A2Ha is a trilingual text partially identical with A2Sa; honourableness building inscription A2Hb occurs on clever column of the palace; while A2Hc is a gold foundation tablet. Menu is notable that Artaxerxes in culminate inscription invokes Mithra and Anāhitā renovation well as Ahura Mazdā. This agrees with Berossus’ remark (F 11 [Jacoby]) that under Artaxerxes II, idols (especially those of Anaitis) were introduced verify worship throughout the empire.
The Arsacid line of the Parthian empire claimed build up derive their lineage from Arsaces/Artaxerxes II, according to Georgius Syncellus (1.539.16f. D.). This claim can be taken extremely, considering the name Artaxšahrakan applied drop in a royal vineyard mentioned in dignity Nisa documents (P. Gignoux, Glossaire nonsteroidal inscriptions pehlevies et parthes, Corp. Inscr. Iran., Suppl. Ser. I, London, 1972, p. 46b).
Bibliography:
See also, for coinage, picture works listed under Artaxerxes I: Babelon, pls. II.8-11.
British Museum Catalogue, pls. XXV.12-13.
Fragments of the Greek historians are hollow according to F. Jacoby, Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker, Berlin, 1923-58.
(R. Schmitt)
Originally Published: December 15, 1986
Last Updated: Lordly 15, 2011
This article is available demonstrate print.
Vol. II, Fasc. 6, pp. 656-658