Contents
Xerxes I
Leading the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BCE and expanding Persepolis.
Thermopylae · Salamis
- Born
- Unknown
- Birthplace
- Achaemenid Empire
- Died
- 465 BCE
More people
Xerxes I
Xerxes I ruled the Achaemenid Empire from 486 to 465 BCE. His reign is remembered for war with Greek states and major royal building projects.
Early life
Royal parents
Was the son of Darius I and Atossa, a daughter of Cyrus the Great.
Succession
Was chosen to succeed Darius ahead of an older half-brother.
Career
- 486 BCE
Accession
Inherited the empire after his father’s death.
- 480 BCE
Greek campaign
Led the invasion that reached Athens but suffered a naval defeat at Salamis.
- 465 BCE
Assassination
Was killed in a palace conspiracy and succeeded by Artaxerxes I.
Major events
Thermopylae
Persian forces overcame the Greek defenders of the pass.
Salamis
His fleet suffered a major defeat against the Greek coalition.
Persepolis construction
Continued monumental work begun by Darius, including the Gate of All Nations.
Beyond work
Family succession
His son Artaxerxes became king after the palace killings.
Historical sources
Greek accounts, Persian inscriptions and archaeology offer different perspectives on his reign.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional source ↗Photo: Darafsh. CC BY 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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