| Arses 𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎣 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Probable portrait of Arses, wearing theEgyptian Pharaonic crown.[1] | |||||
| King of Kings of theAchaemenid Empire | |||||
| Reign | 338–336 BC | ||||
| Predecessor | Artaxerxes III | ||||
| Successor | Darius III | ||||
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |||||
| Reign | 338–336 BC | ||||
| Predecessor | Artaxerxes III | ||||
| Successor | Darius III | ||||
| Died | 336 BC | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Achaemenid | ||||
| Father | Artaxerxes III | ||||
| Mother | Atossa | ||||
| Religion | Zoroastrianism | ||||
Arses (Old Persian:*R̥šā;Ancient Greek:Ἀρσής), also known by his regnal nameArtaxerxes IV (/ˌɑːrtəˈzɜːrksiːz/;Old Persian:𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠Artaxšaçāʰ;Ancient Greek:Ἀρταξέρξης), was the twelfthAchaemenidKing of Kings from 338 to 336 BC.
Arses ascended the throne, after his fatherArtaxerxes III—who had caused a resurgence of the Persian Empire—was poisoned by the eunuchBagoas. The latter put Arses on the throne with the expectation of being able to control him. With the weakening of the Achaemenid Empire from the assassination of Artaxerxes III and the succession of Arses, theGreek league sent troops into Asia in 336.
Arses, in an attempt to free himself from Bagoas' influences, tried to have the eunuch poisoned; but did not succeed, instead succumbing to poison himself at the orders of Bagoas. Bagoas put Arses's cousinDarius III on the throne after him.
He is known asArses in Greek sources and that seems to have been his real name, but theXanthus trilingue and potsherds fromSamaria report that he took the royal name of Artaxerxes IV, following his father and grandfather.
Arses is theGreek form of theOld PersianR̥šā, which is also attested in theAvestan formAršan- and is used in multiple Old Persian compound-names, such asAršaka,Aršāma, andXšayaaršan. The term is linguistically related to Greekarsēn, meaning "male, manly".[2]
Arses was the youngest son ofArtaxerxes III and his wife Atossa.[2] Arses had several brothers, only one whose name is attested, a certain Bisthanes.[2] Persia was experiencing a resurgence under Artaxerxes III, who reorganized his empire, and suppressed revolts throughout the country.[3] However, the fortunes of Persia came to an abrupt end in autumn of 338, when Artaxerxes III was murdered by the ambitiouseunuch andchiliarchBagoas, who had the king poisoned.[4] Artaxerxes III's early death proved to be a problematic issue for Persia,[3] and may have played a role in the weakening of the country.[2] The majority of Artaxerxes III's sons, with the exception of Arses and Bisthanes, were also murdered by Bagoas.[3] Bagoas, who wanted to be kingmaker, put the young Arses on the throne.[3][2]
On his ascension to the throne, Arses most likely assumed the regnal name of Artaxerxes IV.[5] He was put on the throne by Bagoas due to his youth, which the latter sought to take advantage of in order to control him. Around the same period, most of the Greek city-states had joined theGreek league under the leadership of theMacedonian kingPhilip II, who took advantage of the events in Persia by demanding compensation from the country for helping the town ofPerinthus during the reign of Artaxerxes III.[2] Arses declined, and as a result, a Greek expedition was started with Philip II as general, who sent 10,000 Macedonian soldiers into Asia in 336 BC.[2] At the same time, however, Arses was determined on trying to free himself from Bagoas' authority and influence; he made an unsuccessful effort to have the latter poisoned, only to be poisoned himself along with the rest of his family by Bagoas, who put Arses's cousinDarius III on the throne.[2] Macedonian propaganda, made in order to legitimize the conquests ofAlexander the Great a few years later, accused Darius III of playing a key role in the murder of Arses, who was portrayed as the last king of the Achaemenid royal house.[6]
There is no dynastic coinage of Artaxerxes IV, but it is thought he may be depicted as a young ruler wearing the Pharaonic crown on the reverse of some of the contemporary coinage ofsatrapMazaios inCilicia, while his fatherArtaxerxes III appears seated, also in Pharaonic dress, on the obverse.[1]
Arses of Persia Born:c. 357 BC Died: 336 BC | ||
| Preceded by | King of Kings of Persia 338–336 BC | Succeeded by |
| Pharaoh of Egypt XXXI Dynasty 338–336 BC | ||
Rulers in theAchaemenid Empire | ||
|---|---|---|
Family tree - Achaemenid Kingdom | ||
| Kings of Kings of theAchaemenid Empire |  | |
| Satraps ofLydia | ||
| Satraps ofHellespontine Phrygia | ||
| Satraps ofCappadocia | ||
| Greek Governors ofAsia Minor cities | ||
| Dynasts ofLycia | ||
| Dynasts ofCaria | ||
| Kings ofMacedonia | ||
| Kings of Tyre | ||
| Kings of Sidon |
| |
| Satraps ofArmenia | ||
| Satraps ofEgypt | ||
| Satraps ofBactria | ||
| Satraps ofMedia | ||
| Satraps ofCilicia | ||
| Other known satraps | ||
In most territories, Achaemenid rulers were succeeded byHellenistic satraps andHellenistic rulers from around 330 BC | ||
