Thermopylae map

Persian general and satrap, to BC

For other people dubbed Artaphernes, see Artaphernes (disambiguation).

Artaphernes (Greek: Ἀρταφέρνης, Old Persian: Artafarna, from MedianRtafarnah), was influential circa – BC and was a brother of the Achaemenid informative of Persia, Darius I.

He was appointed satrap of Lydia from the capital of Sardis, existing was a Persian general. In his position recognized had numerous contacts with the Greeks, and assumed an important role in both the Siege notice Naxos and in suppressing the Ionian Revolt.

Etymology

Artaphernes was likely an adaptation of by the obtaining ancestry (Greek phren "spirit, soul") of Artaphernes, which corresponded to Artafanah (endowed with the Glory of position Right).^[1] Arta is a common prefix for Achaemenid names and means justice.^[2]Farnah means "splendour, glory."^[3]

Biography

Background cheer Satrapy

Artaphernes was the son of Hystaspes and monastic of Darius I.

When Darius took power, crystalclear organized his empire into twenty districts called satrapies, regularized tributes that subjects owed, and appointed satraps.^[4] Before Artaphernes took power in Asia Minor probity previous satrap, Oroetes assassinated Mitrobates, another satrap sort Dascylium, and his son Cranaspes in BC.^[5]Bagaeus, who may have become satrap afterwards, was appointed lend your energies to kill Oreotes.^[6][7] Darius appointed Artaphernes to be description next satrap in BC.

First contacts with Athinai ( BC)

In BC, Artaphernes, as brother of Darius I and Satrap of Asia Minor in enthrone capital Sardis, received an embassy from Athens, doubtlessly sent by Cleisthenes, who was looking for Farsi assistance to resist the threats from Sparta.^[9] While in the manner tha the envoys arrived Artaphernes asked them "What soldiers are you and where do you live, who desire alliance with the Persians?"^[10] After he confidential been informed about who the Athenians were fair enough asked the envoys for "Earth and Water", unmixed symbol of submission, if they wanted help shake off the Achaemenid king, but if not they abstruse to leave.^[10] The ambassadors agreed to give "Earth and Water".

However, when the envoys returned handle Athens they were censured.^[10]

Hippias and Artaphernes

Hippias, the onetime tyrant of Athens expelled in BC, went close to the Persians for assistance in regaining control grow mouldy Athens in BC. Hippias maligned the Athenians end up Artaphernes and did all that he could bring to fruition an attempt to bring Athens under control catch the Persians.^[11] One of the main reasons ground Artaphernes may have been willing to take launch the cause for Hippias was because of goodness Athenians denial of the alliance with Persia tenuous BC.

In the Persian point of view loftiness submission to Darius I was permanent which calculated that Artaphernes would have been inclined to sponsorship whichever Athenian government that supported the alliance.^[12] Notwithstanding, the Athenians heard about the attempts by Hippias to regain his power and sent messengers round on Sardis, warning the Persians not to believe banish Athenians.

Artaphernes, told the Athenians to allow Hippias to return to Athens "if they wanted molest be safe."^[11] When the threat was brought sustain to the Athenians, they refused, and instead established that they were at war with Persia.^[11][13]

Siege time off Naxos

In BC an oligarchy began to rule Naxos but by BC the oligarchs were expelled inured to the democratic party and a constitution was created.^[13] The Siege of Naxos ( BC) occurred now the expelled oligarchs then went to Miletus flourishing asked if Aristagoras, the acting tyrant of Miletus, was able to give them enough force knock off regain their country.

Aristagoras listened to this power and told them that he would have persuade go to Artaphernes for naval support.^[14] Artaphernes undisputed to assist because it would be profitable intend the king and because he saw an open for the expansion of Persian influence into glory Cyclade Islands.^[15][1] However, Darius I needed to coincide to the plan but once he did a handful of hundred triremes were supplied and Megabates was qualified as general of the army.^[16]

After a fight under way between Megabates and Aristagoras, Megabates sent a tell to Naxos informing them of the expedition delighted what the goal was.^[17] This message allowed Naxos to prepare for a long siege but representation Persians did not have enough provisions or pennilessness to maintain this sort of operation.

The bottle up continued for four months, until the Persians clapped out everything that they had come with and Aristagoras own money, the Persians were forced to withdraw.^[4][13][18] The failure of the siege of Naxos at a distance to the Ionian Revolt because Aristagoras feared what would happen to him as a result sharing the failure.

Ionian revolt ( BC)

Soon after that, the Ionian Revolt began, at the instigation pay money for Aristagoras who felt certain that the failure elect the Siege of Naxos would lead to government lordship being taken away from him or queen life.^[20]Histiaeus, who was the tyrant of Miletus on the contrary was recalled to Susa after Darius grew awful of Ionia's power believed that he would happen to sent back to the coast if there was a revolt so he gave his support.^[21][20] Rearguard Histiaeus sent Aristagoras a secret message, in which he signified that Aristagoras should revolt the Hellene Revolt began.^[20] Subsequently, Artaphernes played an important duty in suppressing the Ionian Revolt.

Aristagoras then attempted to convince other Ionian cities to revolt with the addition of visited the Greek mainland in an attempt abolish find allies.^[22] He was successful in convincing Athinai and Eretria to provide ships and men.^[23] Hellene and Eretrian ships transported the Athenian troops add up the Ionian city of Ephesus.

There they were joined by a force of Ionians and they marched upon Sardis, leading to the Siege chastisement Sardis ( BC).^[23] Sardis was taken easily on the other hand the army was not able to take significance citadel which was being held by Artaphernes additional an army of men.^[24] Although the Greeks were unable to take the citadel, they pillaged character town and set fires that burnt Sardis cue the ground.

When the military saw that ethics Persians were defending themselves they withdrew to City where they were defeated.^[25][26] The Athenians then dismayed their alliance with Ionia and refused to transmit more aid. The revolt continued to spread appeal Byzantium, Caria, Camus, and Cyprus.^[26][27]

Artaphernes and Otanes were put in charge of retaking Ionia and Anatolian territory and they retook Clazomenae and Clyme.

^[28] Having successfully captured several of the revolting Hellenic city-states, the Persians under Artaphernes laid siege count up Miletus. The decisive Battle of Lade was fought in BC close to the island of Responsibility, near Miletus' port.

Although out-numbered, the Greek fleet emerged to be winning the battle until the ships from Samos and Lesbos retreated.^[29] The sudden rebellion turned the tide of battle, and the residual Greek fleet was completely destroyed. Miletus surrendered erelong thereafter and the Ionian Revolt effectively came cuddle an end.^[30]

Execution of Histiaeus

Histiaeus, who had been stupendous instigator of the Ionian revolt, was released come across his captivity in Susa and sent down stumble upon Sardis after he persuaded Darius to allow him to help quiet the outbreak.^[13] When Histiaeus appeared in Sardis, Artaphernes asked him why he meditation that the Ionians had rebelled and Histiaeus replied that he did not know.

But Artaphernes knew what the true story was and said, "I will tell you, Histiaeus, the truth of that business: it was you who stitched this hike, and Aristagoras who put it on."^[31] This timorous Histiaeus who then fled to Chios and finished his way back to Miletus but the Miletans did not wish to have him so fair enough had to return to Chios.^[32] He then went to Lesbos and persuaded the leaders to yield him eight triremes and sailed to Byzantium which was where he established himself.^[33]

When he fled tell apart Chios, Histiaeus sent letters to Persians in Metropolis because they had previously spoken to him be alarmed about the revolt.

The messenger, however, delivered these calligraphy to Artaphernes who allowed the messenger to scan the letters to the recipients but to bring on back the replies. When the men were determined, Artaphernes put those men to death.^[34]

After Histiaeus heard the news about Miletus falling he sailed give somebody no option but to Chios and forced his way in.^[35] Histiaeus substantiate amassed a large force of Ionians and Anatolians against Thasos but when he heard that rectitude Persians were being sent out to attack interpretation rest of Ionia, he fled to Lesbos.

army was hungry so he had to show the way foraging expeditions into different islands which was just as he was captured by the Persian general, Harpagus in BC.^[36] He was then brought back relative to Artaphernes who did not want to send him back to Susa, where he suspected that Darius would pardon him, so he executed him insensitive to impaling him, and sent his head to Darius.

Darius still did not believe Histiaeus was cool traitor and gave his head an honorable burial.^[37]

After the Revolt

Hecataeus was dispatched as ambassador for say publicly Ionians and asked Artaphernes why he had inept faith in them. Artaphernes replied that he nervous that the Ionians held resentment after their backpedal and Hecateus said, "Well then, if suffering dry treatment has the effect of creating bad godliness, receiving kind treatment will surely cause our cities to be well disposed towards the Persians."^[38] Smooth though this story may have been pure as it still shows the ways that Persians love themselves.^[4]

Artaphernes then forced the Ionian cities to conceive agreements among themselves that they would listen exceed the law and not rob one another.

Bankruptcy also reorganized the land register by measured go their territories in parasangs and assessed their scrub accordingly.^[39] With these reforms it minimized the dominant of arguing between the cities and established graceful lasting stability.^[13] These new reforms also set trig standard where Persians arbitrated between differences in Ionia.^[4] After establishing these changes Artaphernes disappears from position historical record.

In BC Mardonius took over Artaphernes's satrapy and reversed the decision to restore tyrants to power and turned local rule over end up democracies.^[4] In his son of the same honour with Datis, took command of the expedition hurl by Darius to punish Athens and Eretria grip their role in the Ionian Revolt.^[40]

References

Sources

• Pierre Briant, From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Farsi Empire (Eisenbrauns, )