Achaemenid dynasty

The Achaemenid dynasty (Old Persian: 𐏃𐎧𐎠𐎶𐎴𐎡𐏁𐎡𐎹 Haxāmanišyaʰ; Persian: هخامنشی‎ Haxâmaneši; Ancient Greek: Ἀχαιμενίδαι Achaimenidai; Latin: Achaemenides)[1] was an ancient Persian royal dynasty that ruled the Achaemenid Empire, an Iranian empire that stretched from Egypt and Southeastern Europe in the west to the Indus Valley in the east.[2][3][4]

This article is about the Persians. For the Greeks, see Alcmaeonids.
House of Achaemenes
𐏃𐎧𐎠𐎶𐎴𐎡𐏁𐎡𐎹
Royal Persian Standard
Place of originPersis
Founded705 BCE
FounderAchaemenes (traditional)
Final rulerDarius III
TitlesShah of PersiaKing of BabylonPharaoh of Egypt
Estate(s)Achaemenid Persian Empire
Dissolution330 BCE
Cadet branches
Periods and dynasties of Babylon
All years are BC
Old Babylonian
Amorite dynasty I c. 1894–1595
First Sealand dynasty II c. 1732–1475
Kassite
Kassite dynasty III c. 1594–1155
Middle Babylonian
Second Dynasty of Isin IV c. 1157–1026
Second Sealand dynasty V c. 1025–1005
Bazi dynasty VI c. 1004–985
Elamite dynasty VII c. 984–979
Dynasty of E VIII c. 978–732
Neo-Assyrian
Assyrian dynasty
(combined rule of the Adaside
dynasty and the Sargonid
dynasty)		 IX 732–626
Neo-Babylonian
Chaldean dynasty X 626–539
Persian
Achaemenid dynasty XI 539–331
Hellenistic
Argead dynasty XII 331–309
Seleucid dynasty XIII 311–141
Parthian
Arsacid dynasty XIV 141 BC–AD 224
See also: List of kings by Period and Dynasty

Origins

The history of the Achaemenid dynasty is mainly known through Greek historians such as Herodotus, Ctesias, and Xenophon; the Hebrew Bible and other Jewish religious texts; and native Iranian sources. According to Herodotus, the Achaemenids were a clan from the tribe of the Pasargadae and probably settled surrounding the site of Pasargadae. They possibly ruled over other Persian tribes in the 9th century BCE.

Darius the Great traced his genealogy to Achaemenes, an unknown lineage named after Haxāmaniš. However, there is no evidence for a king called Achaemenes.[5]

Dynasty

Kingship was hereditary within the Achaemenid dynasty. The last element of the King of Kings' title was always "an Achaemenid". Succession was designated by the King of Kings, and was usually the first-born son. From Darius I to Artaxerxes II, it was usually a synarchy between the father and the son.[5]

Achaemenid rulers
KingReignNotes
Achaemenes705–650 BCEFounder of the Achaemenid dynasty
Teispes650–625 BCE
Cyrus I625–580 BCE
Cambyses I580–559 BCE
Cyrus II559–530 BCECyrus the Great; founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Cambyses II530–522 BCEEgypt is conquered at the Battle of Pelusium, thus adding Pharaoh of Egypt to the royal Persian titles
Bardiya522 BCEMight have been an impostor named Gaumāta during his short reign
Darius I522–486 BCEAchaemenid Empire reaches its greatest extent; initial foray into Greece
Xerxes I486–465 BCELaunched failed invasion of Greece
Artaxerxes I465–424 BCE
Xerxes II424 BCE
Sogdianus424–423 BCEIllegitimate son of Artaxerxes I
Darius II423–404 BCE
Artaxerxes II404–358 BCEPersia loses Egypt
Artaxerxes III358–338 BCEPersia regains Egypt
Artaxerxes IV338–336 BCE
Darius III336–330 BCEDefeated by Alexander of Macedon; Greeks conquer Achaemenid Persia; dynasty falls
Artaxerxes V 330–329 BCE Attempted to lead resistance against Alexander; captured and executed

Family tree
Achaemenes
King of Persia[*]
705–675
Teispes
King of Persia
675–640
Ariaramnes
Prince[*]
Cyrus I
King of Persia
640–600
Arsames
Prince[*]
Cambyses I
King of Persia
600–559
Hystaspes
Prince[*]
Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II)
King of Persia
559–530/28
Darius the Great (Darius I)
King of Persia
522–486
Atossa
Princess
Cambyses II
King of Persia
530–522
Smerdis (Bardiya)
Prince (imposter Gaumata ruled as Smerdis[*])
522
Artystone
Princess
Xerxes the Great (Xerxes I)
King of Persia
485–465
Artaxerxes I
King of Persia
465–424
Xerxes II
King of Persia
424
Sogdianus
King of Persia
424–423
Darius II
King of Persia
423–404
Arsites
Prince
Parysatis
Princess
Bagapaios
Prince
Artaxerxes II
King of Persia
404–358
Amestris
Princess
Cyrus the Younger
Prince
Cyrus (IV)
Prince
Ostanes
Prince
Artaxerxes III
King of Persia
358–338
Ocha
Prince
Rodrogune
Princess
Apama
Princess
Sisygambis
Princess
Arsames (II)
Prince
Artaxerxes IV
King of Persia
338–336
Parysatis (II)
Princess
Darius III
King of Persia
336–330
Oxathres
Prince
Artaxerxes V
King of Persia
330–329
Stateira II
Princess
Alexander the Great (Alexander III)
King of Macedon and Persia
329–323

See also

References
  1. Kuhrt & Sancisi-Weerdenburg 2006.
  2. "ACHAEMENID DYNASTY". www.iranicaonline.org. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  3. Bresciani, Edda (1998). "EGYPT i. Persians in Egypt in the Achaemenid period". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol VIII, Fasc. 3. pp. 247–249.
  4. Eusebius. Chronicle. p. 149.
  5. "ACHAEMENID DYNASTY – Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 13 November 2020.

Sources
  • Kuhrt, Amélie; Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (2006). "Achaemenids". In Salazar, Christine F.; Landfester, Manfred; Gentry, Francis G. (eds.). Brill’s New Pauly. Brill Online.
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