Barsine

Barsine is a princess Perse, girl of the satrap of Ionie, Artabaze. She was the concubine of Alexandre Large the of which she had a son, Héraclès.

Biography

Probably born towards 363 av. J. - C., it is elder girls of Artabaze but has a brother older than it, Pharnabaze, which will be distinguished in the fight against Alexandre Large the before joining with him.

Towards 358 av. J. - C., Artabaze revolts with others satrap S against the central capacity of the Persian empire at the time of the disturbed period corresponding to the last months of the long reign of Artaxerxès II. It is combined with two chiefs Greek mercenaries, two brothers, Mentor and Memnon of Rhodos. This alliance is sealed by the marriage of Artabaze with the sister of the two mercenaries and of Barsine with Mentor (in 355 av. J. - C.). It is very probable that this last union is not consumed because of very the young age of the princess (12 years). In 354 av. J. - C., Artaxerxès III is victorious satraps revolted and of Mentor. This one takes refuge in Egypt, then independent, while Memnon, Artabaze and Barsine take refuge at the court of Philippe II of Macedonia, with Pella. It is undoubtedly there that Barsine there meets the future Alexandre Large the, 6 or 7 years younger than it. Moreover the princess the Greek speaks perfectly. She remains at the court of Peeled a dozen years when in 342 av. J. - C. his/her Mentor husband, who since 346 av. J. - C. was put at the service of Artaxerxès III, obtains forgiveness for Artabaze and her family. Following the meeting again with her husband, Barsine gives the day to a girl.

In 340 av. J. - C. her husband dies. She then marries the brother of this last, Memnon of Rhodos. When Memnon becomes the chief of the troops sent against Alexandre, Barsine remains at the court of Darius III in the entourage of the women and girls of this one. Thus it becomes captive of the Macedonians after the Bataille of Issos. Widow one second time, Barsine quickly becomes the mistress of Alexandre. Plutarque explains it by the fact why they know each other and that the princess speaks Greek. She accompanies the conqueror until in Sogdiane, where she gives the day to the first wire of the king, Héraclès. But when Alexandre marries Roxane, it leaves the entourage of the king and is withdrawn with his son with Pergame.

One rather knows little about his fate after death of Alexandre but towards 309 av. J. - C., it fall between the hands from one from the Diadoque S, Polyperchon, which holds the Peloponnese. This one tries to use Héraclès and its mother against Cassandre of Macedonia, but this last manages to thwart Polyperchon which makes carry out Barsine and its son to return in the good graces of Cassandre.

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