Arses of Persia

Artaxerxes IV Arses

Arses of Persia (also known as Arses of Persia), was a short-reigned king of the Achaemenid Empire, from 338 BC to 336 BC. He was the youngest son of Artaxerxes III and was placed on the throne by the powerful courtier Bagoas, who had murdered not only Arses' father but also all of his brothers. Arses' reign is notable for its brevity and the circumstances that led to his ascension to the throne. Despite being king, Arses had little real power, as Bagoas held the true control over the empire's affairs.

Background

Arses was born into the Achaemenid dynasty, which had ruled the Persian Empire since its establishment by Cyrus the Great. The empire, at its zenith, was the largest the world had seen, stretching from parts of the Balkans and Eastern Europe proper in the west to the Indus Valley in the east. Arses' father, Artaxerxes III, had been a strong ruler who worked to consolidate the empire's territories and strengthen its administration. However, his reign ended abruptly when he and most of his family were assassinated by Bagoas, a powerful court official.

Reign

After the death of Artaxerxes III in 338 BC, Bagoas placed Arses, the only surviving member of the royal family, on the throne. Arses' reign was marked by his attempts to free himself from the control of Bagoas. He reportedly sought to poison Bagoas, but the plot was discovered, and Arses himself was assassinated by Bagoas in 336 BC, after ruling for only two years. His death marked the end of his brief reign and the beginning of the reign of Darius III, who was not of the royal bloodline but was chosen by Bagoas as a more pliable ruler.

Legacy

Arses' reign is often seen as a footnote in the history of the Achaemenid Empire, overshadowed by the reigns of more prominent figures such as Cyrus the Great, Darius I, and Xerxes I. However, his brief rule is indicative of the internal strife and power struggles that plagued the Persian Empire in its declining years. The empire was eventually conquered by Alexander the Great of Macedon, who defeated Darius III and brought an end to the Achaemenid dynasty.

See Also

• Achaemenid Empire
• Artaxerxes III
• Bagoas
• Darius III
• Alexander the Great