Xerxes I

Xerxes I was a powerful ruler of the Achaemenid Empire. He is often called Xerxes the Great.

He reigned as the fourth King of Kings from 486 BC until 465 BC. His name comes from the Old Iranian term Xšaya-ṛšā. This name means "ruling over heroes."

Xerxes belonged to a very important family line. His father was Darius the Great. His mother was Atossa, who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great. Cyrus was the founder of the Persian Empire. This royal connection helped Xerxes claim his right to rule.

The education of a Persian prince was very structured.

According to historical accounts, princes were raised by eunuchs. At age seven, they began learning to hunt and ride. By age fourteen, four aristocratic teachers taught them specific virtues. These teachers aimed to make them wise, just, prudent, and brave. They also studied the Zoroastrian religion. This faith emphasized truthfulness, courage, and self-restraint. At age sixteen, princes began ten years of national service. This included training in archery and the javelin. After serving in the military for 25 years, they became advisers to the king.

Xerxes became king around 486 BC after his father died. There was a dispute over who should follow Darius. His brother, Artobarzan, claimed the throne as the eldest son. However, Xerxes argued his claim based on his mother, Atossa. She was the daughter of Cyrus the Great. A Spartan king named Demaratus supported Xerxes. He noted that Spartan law favored the first son born while the father was king. Because Xerxes was born after Darius took power, his claim was strong. This smooth transition allowed him to focus on his new empire.

Maintaining control of the empire was a difficult task.

In 484 BC, Xerxes had to lead an army to Egypt. He suppressed a revolt caused by taxation and the movement of craftsmen. After this, he faced unrest in Babylon. A leader named Bel-shimanni led a short revolt in 484 BC. Later, Shamash-eriba seized Babylon in 482 BC. Xerxes fought a long siege to retake the city in 481 BC. Following these events, Xerxes changed how he ruled Babylon. He stopped using the title "King of Babylon" and divided the region into smaller units.

One of the most famous parts of his reign was the invasion of Greece.

Xerxes wanted to punish Athens and its allies. This was because they had interfered in the Ionian Revolt. To prepare, Xerxes undertook massive engineering projects. He dug the Xerxes Canal through the Mount Athos peninsula. He also built two large pontoon bridges across the Hellespont. His army was massive and multi-ethnic. It included Medes, Egyptians, Babylonians, Jews, and Arabs. He won victories at Thermopylae and Artemisium. He even captured and destroyed the city of Athens.

Despite early successes, the Persian campaign faced major setbacks. The Persian forces gained control of mainland Greece north of the Isthmus of Corinth. However, they were defeated at the Battle of Salamis. Fearing a trap, Xerxes retreated to Asia with most of his army. He left Mardonius to continue the campaign in Europe. Mardonius was defeated at the Battle of Plataea the following year. This defeat effectively ended the Persian invasion of the Greek mainland. Xerxes then turned his attention back to his home territories.

In his later years, Xerxes focused on large construction projects. He completed many works that his father had started. These included the Gate of All Nations at Persepolis. He also finished the Apadana and the Tachara buildings. He continued work on the Palace of Darius at Susa. He also maintained the Royal Road, which was a vital transport system. His reign ended abruptly in 465 BC. Artabanus, the commander of the royal bodyguard, assassinated Xerxes and his heir, Darius. Xerxes was succeeded by his third son, Artaxerxes I.