Artaxerxes I

Artaxerxes I was the fifth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from August 465 to December 424 BC. He was the third son of Xerxes I, likely born during the reign of his grandfather Darius I. In Greek sources, he is surnamed "Long-handed" because his right hand was said to be longer than his left. Josephus and several ancient traditions identify him as King Ahasuerus from the Book of Esther. His rise to power followed the murder of his father Xerxes I by Artabanus, the commander of the royal bodyguard, and the eunuch Aspamitres. According to the Greek historian Ctesias, Artabanus then falsely accused Xerxes’ eldest son, Crown Prince Darius, of the murder and persuaded Artaxerxes to kill his brother. Aristotle, however, claims Artabanus killed Darius first and then Xerxes. After discovering the truth, Artaxerxes executed Artabanus and his sons. Early in his reign, he faced a major revolt in Egypt (460–454 BC) led by Inaros II, a Libyan prince claiming descent from the Twenty-sixth Dynasty. Inaros, aided by Athenian allies, defeated the Persian satrap Achaemenes and besieged the Persian garrison at Memphis. The rebellion was eventually crushed by the Persian general Megabyzus after a two-year siege, and Inaros was captured and taken to Susa. In relations with Greece, Artaxerxes adopted a strategy of funding Athens’ enemies to weaken them, which indirectly caused the Athenians to move the Delian League treasury to Athens. This led to renewed fighting at the Battle of Cyprus in 450 BC, after which hostilities ceased. A purported Peace of Callias in 449 BC is disputed by scholars. Artaxerxes also offered asylum to Themistocles, his father’s great enemy, granting him the cities of Magnesia, Myus, Lampsacus, Skepsis, and Percote for his maintenance. Themistocles learned Persian customs and language. In the Bible, Artaxerxes is described as commissioning the scribe Ezra to oversee Jewish religious and civil affairs, and later sending his cup-bearer Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.