Hydarnes II (Old Persian:𐎻𐎡𐎭𐎼𐎴,romanized: Vidṛna), also known asHydarnes the Younger (by contrast with his fatherHydarnes the Old) was a Persian commander of theAchaemenid Empire in the 5th century BC. He was the son ofHydarnes,satrap of the Persian empire and one of the seven conspirators againstGaumata.
During the reign ofXerxes I, Hydarnes was one of the commanders for theSecond Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. He was appointed as the leader of the 10,000-man contingent of "Immortals", while his brother Sisamnes commanded the levy of theAryans.[1][2]
On the first day of theBattle of Thermopylae, Hydarnes led the Immortals against the phalanx ofSpartans underLeonidas I, but an attempt to break through failed.[3] On the second day, a local resident namedEphialtes betrayed the Greeks by telling the Persians about a hidden goat path around Thermopylae. This enabled Hydarnes and his Immortals to pass behind the Spartans,Thespians andThebans and, as a result, defeat them.[4]
After the Persians were defeated at theBattle of Salamis, Xerxes I decided to return to Asia leaving a large army underMardonius which wintered inThessaly. Hydarnes wanted to stay at the side of the king and go back with him to Asia. So Xerxes tasked Hydarnes with the responsibility of getting the Persian army back over theHellespont to Asia.[5][6] After this, nothing further is reported about Hydarnes.
Another,Hydarnes, who was active during the reign ofDarius II (r. 423 – 404 BC) was a descendant (perhaps grandson) of Hydarnes the Younger.[7]
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 | ||
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