Artaxerxes III

Artaxerxes III, also known by his personal name Ochus, was a major ruler of the Achaemenid Empire. He served as the King of Kings from 359 or 358 BC until his death in 338 BC. His name is the Latin form of the Greek name Artaxerxes. This name comes from the Old Persian term Artaxšaçā, which means "whose reign is through truth." Before he took the throne, he held two important roles. He was a satrap, which is a provincial governor, and a commander of his father's army.

His path to the throne was defined by a violent struggle for succession. Artaxerxes III was the legitimate son of King Artaxerxes II and Queen Stateira. He had two full brothers named Ariaspes and Darius. Darius was the eldest and was originally the heir to the empire. He even wore the upright tiara, a symbol of royal privilege. However, Darius plotted to take power earlier than expected. A eunuch discovered this conspiracy, leading to the execution of Darius and his family.

After Darius died, the right to rule passed to Ariaspes. Ochus used ruses and allegations to make Ariaspes commit suicide. He also had the king's favorite son, Arsames, killed by a man named Arpates. Once Artaxerxes II died, Ochus finally became king. To secure his position, he murdered all members of the royal family. This ensured that no other relatives could challenge his authority.

Upon his accession, Artaxerxes III took steps to consolidate his power. He ordered all satraps in western Anatolia to disband their mercenary forces. He wanted to prevent local leaders from becoming too independent. This order caused a revolt led by Artabazus II in 356 BC. Artabazus joined forces with the Athenian commander Chares and the Theban general Pammenes. Despite fighting the Persian forces, Artabazus eventually fled to Macedonia to seek protection from King Philip II.

Artaxerxes III is well known for his military campaigns to reclaim lost territories. In 351 BC, he launched a first campaign to conquer Egypt. This attempt failed when the Egyptian Pharaoh, Nectanebo II, defeated the Persians with Greek mercenaries. Following this defeat, several regions like Cyprus and Phoenicia declared independence. Artaxerxes responded by sending Idrieus, the prince of Caria, to reduce Cyprus. He also led a massive army of 330,000 men against the city of Sidon. This army included 300,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, and 300 triremes.

The siege of Sidon was a brutal event. After the city was taken, it was burnt to the ground. This conflagration resulted in the deaths of 40,000 people. Artaxerxes even sold the ruins to speculators looking for hidden treasures. Later, in 340 or 339 BC, he launched a second, successful invasion of Egypt. He organized his army into three divisions of shock troops. Each division had a Greek commander and a Persian supervisor. This meticulous planning allowed him to defeat Nectanebo II and bring Egypt back into the empire.

In his final years, the king turned his attention to grand building projects. He focused on the capital city of Persepolis. He erected a new palace and constructed his own tomb there. He also began long-term projects, such as the Unfinished Gate.

However, his reign ended with his assassination. This event caused instability that prevented a Persian revival. Shortly after his death, the empire fell to the invading armies of Alexander the Great.