Artaxerxes III and the Persian Empire

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Questions and Answers

What was the main reason Artaxerxes III executed around 80 of his siblings?

To prevent them from challenging his throne (correct)

To punish them for rebelling against him

To weaken the Persian Empire

To gain the support of the Greek city-states

What was Artaxerxes III preoccupied with during his reign?

Quelling rebellions among the satraps (correct)

Expanding the Persian Empire to the west

Building alliances with Greek city-states

Preparing for a campaign in Egypt

What was the outcome of Artaxerxes III's campaign to retake Egypt?

He was forced to leave due to Greek mercenary support for the Egyptians (correct)

Egypt declared independence from the Persian Empire

He successfully regained control of Egypt

The rebellion led by Pharaoh Intef III was suppressed

How did Artaxerxes III respond to the declaration of independence by Phoenicia, Anatolia, and Cyprus?

By providing aid to restore Persian order in the region Signup and view all the answers

Which event led to the Peace of Antalcidas granting Greek city-states autonomy?

Rebellions by Greek city-states against Persian rule Signup and view all the answers

What was Artaxerxes III's main focus after targeting the Kudusi and forcing them to lay down their arms?

Demanding other satraps dismiss their mercenary soldiers Signup and view all the answers

What led Artaxerxes III to turn to countering Greek aggression with Greek soldiers and aggression?

Defeat in Egypt and Greek mercenary support for the Egyptians Signup and view all the answers

Why did Artaxerxes III provide aid to Roxanes, the Prince of Korea and Asia Minor?

To restore Persian order in response to regions declaring independence Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Athenian war strategist placed in command by Artaxerxes III?

Fosse Signup and view all the answers

Where did Artaxerxes III personally lead a force to restore order?

Babylon and Syria Signup and view all the answers

What caused a domino effect of surrender in Phoenicia and Palestine?

Betrayal by the Sidonians and scorched earth tactics Signup and view all the answers

Where did Nectanebo II flee to after Artaxerxes III forced him to leave?

Nubia Signup and view all the answers

With whom did Artaxerxes III enter into a peace accord?

Philip II of Macedon Signup and view all the answers

In response to Philip II's attacks, where did Artaxerxes III send troops?

Thrace Signup and view all the answers

What was Artaxerxes III ultimately unable to fully provide despite restoring the Empire's territory?

Stability needed to stave off the coming Macedonian storm Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

In the year 358 BCE, Artaxerxes III became the King of Kings of the Persian Empire, succeeding his father Artaxerxes II.
Artaxerxes III was already older than most of his predecessors, in his late 60s.
To secure his throne, he executed around 80 of his siblings to prevent them from challenging him.
The shadow of a rising power, Philip II of Macedon, was looming in the north, but Artaxerxes III was preoccupied with quelling rebellions among the satraps.
The Peace of Antalcidas, signed in 387 BCE, had granted Greek city-states autonomy, but many continued to rebel against Persian rule.
Artaxerxes III first targeted the Kudusi, the future last true King of Kings, Kotys I of Cilicia, and forced them to lay down their arms.
He then turned his attention to other satraps and demanded they dismiss their mercenary soldiers.
In Egypt, which had separated from the Empire sixty years earlier, a rebellion led by Pharaoh Intef III was ongoing. Artaxerxes III led a campaign to retake Egypt but was ultimately forced to leave due to Greek mercenary support for the Egyptians.
After his defeat in Egypt, Artaxerxes III turned to countering Greek aggression with Greek soldiers and aggression.
In 343 BCE, Phoenicia, Anatolia, and Cyprus declared their independence. Artaxerxes III responded by providing aid to Roxanes, the Prince of Korea and Asia Minor, to restore Persian order.
He also utilized 8,000 Greek mercenaries, forty triremes, and placed the Athenian war strategist Fosse in command.
The campaign was initially successful in Cyprus but had little success elsewhere, leading Artaxerxes III to personally lead a force into Babylon and Syria to restore order.
The Sidonians, who were the center of the unrest, betrayed Artaxerxes III, adopting scorched earth tactics and causing a domino effect of surrender in Phoenicia and Palestine.
Artaxerxes III was able to take Pelusium and Bubastis and forced Nectanebo II to flee to Nubia, creating an independent kingdom cut off from the riches of the Nile Delta.
Artaxerxes III was hated by the Egyptians for taking their land but sought peace with the Greeks, even entering into a peace accord with Philip II of Macedon.
However, when Philip II attacked strategic locations, Artaxerxes III sent troops into Thrace as a response.
Artaxerxes III was able to restore the Empire's territory to its gains under Darius but ultimately did not provide the full stability needed to stave off the coming Macedonian storm. He died in his 80s, but the Empire most needed he could not fully provide.

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Test your knowledge of Artaxerxes III and his reign over the Persian Empire, including his struggles with rebellions, campaigns to restore order, and interactions with Greek city-states and Macedon.