Khshayarsha

Khshayarsha, commonly known as Xerxes I, was a Persian ruler who reigned from 486 to 465 BCE. He was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, succeeding his father, Darius I. Khshayarsha is perhaps best remembered for his ambitious invasion of Greece, a monumental undertaking that aimed to extend Persian dominion into Europe.

Born to Darius I and Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great, Khshayarsha inherited a vast and powerful empire. His early reign saw him consolidate his authority and quell a revolt in Egypt. The most significant event of his kingship was the second Persian invasion of Greece, which began in 480 BCE. This massive military campaign involved a vast army and navy, crossing the Hellespont on a pontoon bridge and engaging the Greek city-states in a series of major battles, including Thermopylae and Salamis.

Despite initial successes, the Persian invasion ultimately failed. The Greek forces, though outnumbered, managed to inflict significant defeats on the Persians, particularly at sea. Khshayarsha eventually withdrew his forces from Greece, marking a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. Following his Greek campaigns, Khshayarsha focused on domestic affairs and extensive building projects, most notably at Persepolis and Susa. He was assassinated in 465 BCE, and was succeeded by his son, Artaxerxes I. His reign is a pivotal period in ancient history, bridging the expansionist ambitions of his father and the subsequent challenges faced by the Achaemenid Empire.