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Aryobarzanes of Persis | |
|---|---|
| Native name | *Aryābr̥zaⁿs |
| Died | 330 BC probably nearPersepolis[1] |
| Allegiance | .svg) Achaemenid Empire |
| Years of service | 331–330 BC |
| Rank | Satrap ofPersis |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Gaugamela Commanding the Persian Army at theBattle of the Persian Gates |
| Relations | Father: Artabazus |
Aryobarzanes (Old Persian:*Aryābr̥zaⁿs;Ancient Greek:ἈριοβαρζάνηςAryobarzánēs;Persian:آریوبرزن; died 330 BC),[2] was anAchaemenidprince,satrap and aPersian military commander who led anambush of the Persian army to resist against the invasion ofMacedonian KingAlexander the Great at theBattle of the Persian Gate in January 330 BC.
The exact birth date and early life of Ariobarzanes is unknown. His sister was the ancient Persian noblewoman and warriorYoutab, who fought alongside him, and was likely slain, at theBattle of the Persian Gate. Ariobarzanes was appointed as the first satrap ofPersis (the southern province ofFars in present-dayIran) in 335 BC byDarius III Codomannus. Historians are surprised that Darius III appointed satrap ofPersepolis andPersis; apparently, that office did not previously exist. Ariobarzanes commanded part of the Persian Army fighting against theMacedonians at theBattle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. Following the Persian defeat at Gaugamela, Darius III realized he could not aptly defend his royal capital of Persepolis and the ancestral capital ofPasargadae. Thus, Darius traveled east to rebuild his armies, leaving Ariobarzanes in command of the remaining Persian forces guarding the passes through theZagros Mountains into the Persian heartland.[citation needed]
After the Battle in Gaugamela, Alexander split his army and led his 14,000-strong force towards the Persian capital via thePersian Gates. There Ariobarzanes successfully ambushed Alexander's army, inflicting heavy casualties. The Persian success at theBattle of the Persian Gate was short-lived though; after being held off for 30 days, Alexander outflanked and destroyed the defenders. Some sources indicate that the Persians were betrayed by a captured tribal chief who showed the Greeks an alternate path that allowed them to outflank Ariobarzanes in a reversal ofThermopylae. Ariobarzanes managed to escape, but when he reached Persepolis, he was denied entrance to the city. The commander of the city's garrison had decided the outcome of the battle, and was convinced that Alexander was bound to the throne of the empire. Ariobarzanes made hislast stand at the Persian Gates; and was likely killed by the advancing Macedonian army. Afterward, Alexander continued towards Persepolis, seizing the city and its treasury, and eventually looting the city months after its fall.[citation needed]
Alexander replaced him withPhrasaortes as Hellenistic satrap ofPersis.[3]
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 | ||
| International | |
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| Other | |
