Gaumata
Who was Gaumata?
Third Achaemenid emperor (522–521 BC)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Gaumata (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Gaumata, also known as the False Smerdis, was the third Achaemenid emperor, ruling from 522 to 521 BC during a particularly chaotic time in early Persian history. Born in Pasargadae, the city established by Cyrus the Great, Gaumata took the throne after Cambyses II's death while the legitimate king was away in Egypt. Historical accounts, mainly from Darius I and later Greek historians, offer varying stories about his identity and legitimacy. Some believe he was a Magian priest who posed as Bardiya, Cambyses II's brother, to seize power.
Gaumata rose to power amid significant unrest in the Achaemenid Empire. The Behistun Inscription, commissioned by his successor Darius I, claims that Gaumata took control through deceit, pretending to be Bardiya. During his short reign, he introduced policies aimed at gaining popular support, such as canceling taxes and military service for three years in various regions. While these actions may have brought some short-term stability, they also caused friction with the Persian nobility and established administrative systems.
Gaumata married Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great and widow of Cambyses II, creating a key political alliance that bolstered his claim to the throne. This marriage linked him directly to the Achaemenid royal line and secured backing from powerful court factions. Atossa was an influential political figure, later marrying Darius I and becoming the mother of Xerxes I, highlighting her ongoing role in royal succession.
Gaumata's rule ended suddenly in 521 BC when a group of seven Persian nobles, led by Darius I, overthrew him. The rebels claimed they were restoring Achaemenid rule by removing a false pretender. Gaumata was killed in Pasargadae, the city of his birth, during this conflict, which marked an end to what Darius described as a period of illegitimate rule and the start of a new era of Achaemenid expansion and stability under Darius I.
Before Fame
The early life of Gaumata is not well-documented, with most information coming from Darius I, who aimed to undermine Gaumata's legitimacy for political reasons. Gaumata was born in Pasargadae, a city that was important as the site of Cyrus the Great's tomb and a center of Achaemenid power. He grew up during the Persian Empire's rapid growth under Cyrus the Great.
Darius's account in the Behistun Inscription claims that Gaumata was a Magian priest who took advantage of Cambyses II's long absence in Egypt to take the throne by pretending to be Cambyses's brother Bardiya. However, some believe he might have actually been the real Bardiya, with Darius concocting the impersonation story to justify his own takeover. The chaos after Cambyses's death in 522 BC gave Gaumata the chance to take control of the empire.
Key Achievements
- Successfully seized control of the vast Achaemenid Empire during a period of political instability
- Implemented empire-wide tax relief and military service exemptions for three years
- Maintained imperial unity and prevented territorial fragmentation during the succession crisis
- Secured marriage alliance with Atossa, connecting his reign to the Cyrus bloodline
- Ruled effectively enough that Darius I felt compelled to justify his overthrow through extensive propaganda
Did You Know?
- 01.His reign lasted only seven months, making him one of the shortest-ruling monarchs in Achaemenid history
- 02.The Behistun Inscription, carved into a cliff face in western Iran, dedicates significant space to denouncing Gaumata as a false king
- 03.Some modern historians argue that Gaumata may have actually been the legitimate prince Bardiya, making Darius I the true usurper
- 04.His tax remission policies were so popular that Darius I had to gradually reverse them to maintain imperial revenues
- 05.The seven conspirators who overthrew him became known as the 'Seven Persians' and founded some of the most powerful noble families in the empire