Artaxerxes II
Who was Artaxerxes II?
The 10th Achaemenid Emperor (404–358 BC)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Artaxerxes II (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Artaxerxes II, originally named Arses or Arsaces, was born around 445 BC and led the Achaemenid Empire as King of Kings from 405/4 BC until he passed away in 359/8 BC. He was the son of Darius II and Queen Parysatis. After his father's death, he became king, but soon faced a major internal challenge in the empire. His younger brother, Cyrus the Younger, then the satrap of Lydia with significant power in western Anatolia, refused to accept Artaxerxes' claim to the throne. Cyrus gathered a strong army to challenge his brother's rule.
Their decisive battle happened at Cunaxa, near Babylon, in 401 BC. Cyrus had recruited about 10,000 Greek mercenaries, whose experiences are famously detailed in Xenophon's Anabasis, along with forces from his lands. Although Cyrus's forces initially had some success, he was killed in battle, ending the civil war. Yet, this victory was just the start of Artaxerxes II's efforts to keep the empire stable and united.
For the rest of his reign, Artaxerxes II faced many rebellions across the empire's wide territories. A notable revolt took place in Cyprus under Evagoras I from 391 to 380 BC, requiring ongoing military action to control. Around 380 BC, cities in Phoenicia also rebelled, further stretching the empire's resources. The Great Satraps' Revolt in the 360s and 350s BC saw several western territories rise up at once. Leaders like Datames, Ariobarzanes, and Autophradates led this major uprising, which posed the toughest challenge to Achaemenid rule since the empire began.
Despite these internal struggles, Artaxerxes II kept diplomatic ties with Greek city-states and got involved in their politics. During his reign, the King's Peace of 387 BC was established, which affirmed Persian control over Greek cities in Asia Minor and allowed autonomy for mainland Greek city-states. He had several wives according to Persian royal traditions, including Stateira, Aspasia the Younger, Amestris, and Atossa, likely to strengthen diplomatic and dynastic ties. Artaxerxes II died in Persepolis in 359/8 BC, having ruled for about 46 years, making him one of the longest-reigning kings in Achaemenid history. His death led to another succession problem, showing the ongoing instability that marked much of his reign.
Before Fame
Born into the Achaemenid royal family around 445 BC, Arses grew up in the Persian court during his father Darius II's reign. This was a time of the ongoing Peloponnesian War and more Greek involvement in Persian affairs. As crown prince, he would have been taught traditional Persian noble skills like horsemanship, archery, and the importance of truth-telling, which were key parts of Achaemenid royal upbringing.
In the late 5th century BC, Persia became more involved with the Greek world, as Athens and Sparta both sought Persian financial support for their long conflict. This environment shaped the young prince's understanding of imperial diplomacy and the strategic importance of the empire's western regions. This knowledge was crucial when his brother Cyrus used these same Greek connections in his rebellion.
Key Achievements
- Defeated his brother Cyrus the Younger at the Battle of Cunaxa in 401 BC, securing his throne
- Negotiated the King's Peace of 387 BC, establishing Persian control over Greek Asia Minor
- Successfully suppressed the Cyprus revolt led by Evagoras I after an eleven-year campaign
- Maintained Achaemenid territorial integrity despite the Great Satraps' Revolt in his final decades
- Ruled for 46 years, providing long-term stability during a turbulent period
Did You Know?
- 01.The 10,000 Greek mercenaries who fought for his brother Cyrus at Cunaxa had to fight their way back to the Black Sea after the battle, an epic retreat chronicled in Xenophon's Anabasis
- 02.He was known for his physical strength and reportedly could shoot a bow more accurately and powerfully than any of his contemporaries
- 03.His mother Parysatis initially favored his younger brother Cyrus and allegedly attempted to poison Artaxerxes' wife Stateira after Cyrus's death
- 04.Later Parthian rulers claimed descent from Artaxerxes II to legitimize their rule over former Achaemenid territories
- 05.His reign of 46 years was one of the longest in Achaemenid history, despite facing almost constant rebellions