Episode 21: Artaxerxis II – Longest Ruling King

The Persian Empire

Dr John W I Lee (2012)

Film Review

Artaxerxis II ruled nearly 40 years (405-359 BC) and brought great stability to the Persian empire. After he defeated his brother Cyrus in 401 BC (see War of the Two Brothers) he pardoned many of the nobles who supported Cyrus, inspiring substantial loyalty among former Cyrus supporters. The Greek historian Plutarch describes him as the “king who loved his people.”

In 399 BC the Spartan empire, which now controlled mainland Greece, began launching attacks on Cyprus and the Ionian Greek cities on the Anatolian peninsula. Their 12,000 troops were mainly Healots (Spartan serfs) and 5,000 Greek mercenaries led by the historian, philosopher and military leader Xenophon.

They would be no match for the Persian cavalry wearing armor, and the Spartans only carried off random plundering raids. The handful of cities they captured chose to remain with the Persian empire.

In spring 395 BC, the Spartans assembled a cavalry force that defeated Persian forces near Sardis but failed to break through the city’s fortifications. Artaxerxes punished  Tissaphernes, the Persian general responsible for the defeat, by beheading him.

The following year Corinth, Athens and Thebes united to overthrow Spartan rule, and Artaxerxis gave them money to fight the Spartans. In 386 BC, Sparta signed a treaty with the Persian Empire ceded Anatolia and Cyprus to Persia in return for a Persian commitment not to interfere with Spartan rule on the Greek mainland.

Other military campaigns by Artaxerxis II:

• 385-383 BC – Artaxerxis unsuccessfully campaigned to retake Egypt (independent since 401 BC).
• 385 BC – Artaxerxes personally led a successful raid against Cadusian mountain nomads.
• 380 BC – Artaxerxis sent troops to Cyprus to put down a revolt.
• 374 BC – Artaxerxes dispatched 20,000 Greek mercenaries to attempt to retake Egypt. They got an initial foothold in the delta with a surprise attack but were forced to withdraw when Nile flooded.
• 360 BC – Artaxerxes successfully crushed revolt by Anatolian satraps.

Prior to his death, Artaxerxes added the Indian gods Mithra and Anahita to create a divine trinity consisting of Ahuramazda (see Achaeminid Religion), Mithra and Anahita.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/15372393/15372388