Artabanus

Achaemenian minister
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://mainten.top/biography/Artabanus
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Quick Facts
Also called:
Ardaban
Died:
465/464 bc

Artabanus (died 465/464 bc) was the minister of the Achaemenid king Xerxes I of Persia, whom he murdered. According to one Greek source, Artabanus had previously killed Xerxes’ son Darius and feared that the father would avenge him; other sources relate that he killed Xerxes first and then, pretending that Darius had done so, induced Darius’ brother Artaxerxes I to avenge the “parricide.” Artabanus was in control of the Achaemenid state for seven months and was recognized as king by Egypt. Finally, however, he was betrayed by his fellow conspirator Megabyzus and was killed by Artaxerxes.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.