Darius III

Darius III was the thirteenth and final King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire. He ruled the Persian Empire from 336 BC until his death in 330 BC. His reign is famous because it marked the end of a long and powerful dynasty. While he was a distant member of the royal family, he eventually rose to lead one of the largest empires in history. His story is often told through the lens of his conflict with the Macedonian leader, Alexander the Great.

Before he became king, Darius was known by the name Artashata. He also may have used the name Codomannus, which some historians think was an Aramaic name meaning "Easterner." Darius first gained notice during the Cadusian expedition in the 350s BC. During a battle, he fought a warrior in single combat and won. This act of bravery earned him the Satrapy of Armenia. A satrapy was a province ruled by a governor.

As Darius rose through the ranks, he held several high-ranking positions. Around 340 BC, he was placed in charge of the royal postal service. This was a vital role for managing such a massive empire. He was also known as a "bandaka," which is an Old Persian term. While some Greek writers translated this as "slave," it actually meant a loyal servant or a high-ranking henchman. This term was also used by the great Darius the Great to describe his own officers.

Getting to the throne was a dangerous process involving many deaths in the royal court. A court official named Bagoas used poison to kill King Artaxerxes III and his youngest son, Arses. When Bagoas tried to poison Darius III, the plan was discovered. Darius forced Bagoas to drink the poison instead, which led to the official's death. With the previous rulers gone, Darius was installed on the throne in 336 BC.

In 334 BC, the Persian Empire faced a massive invasion by Alexander the Great. Alexander led an army of Macedonian and Greek soldiers into Asia Minor. At first, Darius did not join the fighting. He stayed in the capital city of Persepolis and let his satraps handle the local battles. He likely believed the local governors could manage the crisis. However, the situation changed quickly as Alexander moved deeper into Persian territory.

The first major clash happened at the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. Darius had a massive advantage in numbers, with at least twice as many soldiers as Alexander. Despite this, the Persian forces were outflanked. Darius was forced to flee the battlefield in his war-chariot. During this escape, he left behind his royal mantle, his bow, and his chariot for Alexander to find.

The final decisive battle was the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. This battle took place near modern-day Erbil, Iraq. The battlefield was flat and even, which was perfect for the Persian scythed chariots. Darius had a large, organized army and the support of many satraps. Even with these advantages, he was defeated again. The loss was so great that Darius could no longer raise a new imperial army.

After the defeat, Darius tried to flee to find safety. He even offered to give Alexander all the empire west of the Euphrates River in exchange for peace. Alexander refused these offers and continued to pursue him. In 330 BC, while Darius was on the run, he was killed by his relative Bessus. Bessus was the satrap of Bactria. With Darius gone, the Achaemenid Empire fell under the control of Alexander the Great.