Darius III

Lore & Background

Darius III was a distant member of the Achaemenid dynasty. He was the son of Arsames and grandson of Ostanes, whose father Darius II ruled from 424 BC to 405 BC. His mother was Sisygambis, a woman of obscure origins, probably of Achaemenid descent, though it is unknown to which branch she belonged. She may have been the daughter of Ostanes and thus the sister of Arsames.

Darius had a brother named Oxyathres and a sister named Stateira I. Before his accession, he bore the name Artashata. The 2nd-century Roman historian Justin is the only historian to refer to him as Codomannus, a name he supposedly bore before he rose to prominence. He first adopted the regnal name Darius when he ascended the throne in 336 BC. He rose to prominence during the Cadusian expedition of Artaxerxes III in the 350s BC, was made satrap of Armenia, and later placed in charge of the royal postal service.

After Artaxerxes III was poisoned by the eunuch Bagoas, and Bagoas also poisoned Artaxerxes' son Arses, Darius was installed on the throne. He forced Bagoas to drink poison after discovering the eunuch planned to poison him as well. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great began his invasion, defeated the Persians, and destroyed Persepolis in 330 BC. Darius was killed by his relative Bessus, satrap of Bactria, before Alexander reached him.

Reader's Guide

Darius III is first attested during the Cadusian expedition of Artaxerxes III in the 350s BC. He distinguished himself by slaying a warrior in single combat, was given the Satrapy of Armenia, and probably married an unknown noblewoman who bore him two daughters and possibly a son named Ariobarzanes. He later married his sister Stateira I, and in 339 BC they had a son named Ochus.

In 338 BC, Artaxerxes III was poisoned by Bagoas, who installed Arses on the throne. Arses was later poisoned by Bagoas, who then put Darius on the throne in 336 BC. Darius forced Bagoas to drink poison. In 336 BC, Philip II of Macedon sent an advance force into Asia Minor, but his campaign was suspended after his assassination.

In spring 334 BC, Alexander invaded Asia Minor, winning at the Battle of the Granicus. Darius did not take the field until the Battle of Issus in 333 BC, where he was defeated and forced to flee. After Alexander's conquest of Persepolis in 330 BC, Darius was killed by Bessus.

Did You Know?

• Before his accession, Darius bore the name Artashata, meaning 'Happy in Arta'.