Xerxès Ier

Xerxès 1st (or Assuérus 1st, Persian: خشایارشا, Khšāyāršā , Old man-Persan: Xšayāršā ), born towards -519, died in -465, “Large Persian King” , member of the dynasty of the Achéménides.

Biography

King de Perse from -485 to -465, it is appointed by his father preferably with Artobarzanès, his older brother. By his/her mother, Atossa, girl of Cyrus Large the, it was the downward direct one of the founder of the Empire achéménide.

In died of his father, Darius, it takes part in campaigns in Egypt (-484) and in Babylon (-482).

It then again starts again the project of a military campaign directed against the Greece. It subjects revolted Egypt, then takes again the intentions of his father against Greece (- 480): it makes levies in masse, manages to gather an immense army for the time, equips at the same time a fleet of more than 1200 veils, intended to skirt the littoral of the Aegean Sea, throws a bridge of boats on Hellespont to cross this strait and in his madness made, one says, to whip the sea to punish it to have broken this bridge.

He bores the isthmus which linked the Mont Athos in the continent to give passage to its fleet, receives the tender of Macedonia and Thessalie, is stopped a long time in front of the Thermopyles which Léonidas defends and crosses them only after having lost 20.000 men. He takes Thèbes, Platée, Thespies, enters without resistance Athens, which he delivers to the flames, but sees his destroyed fleet, by Thémistocle with Salamine (- 480).

He regains Asia and leaves the command of his troops with Mardonios. The following year, its troops are still beaten in Platée and Mycale. He withdraws himself with Suse and does not take part any more in the later combat. He starts a policy of great work.

The last years of its reign are little known. He is assassinated in -465 in a plot directed by his minister Artaban. His/her son Artaxerxès succeeds to him.

Xerxès 1st is assimilated by the contemporary historians to the Assuérus of the Bible, where it appears in the books of Esther and Esdras.

The countryside of Xerxes

To died of his/her father Darius, Xerxes launches an offensive on the Greece to be avenged for Athens, known under the name of second medic war.

Its army (several million according to the old ones, more probably 250.000) spent the winter in Asia Mineure for then moving towards Hellespont.

In front of the imposing fleet, the Greek ships simulate a retirement bringing the army of Xerxes in the strait of Salamine. The ships which borrowed this channel were destroyed by the Greek ships, more handy.

He is opposed to an alliance Greek cities known under the name of Bataille of Thermopyles.

Genealogy

References

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