Arsames of Persia

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Arsames (Old Persian: Aršâma, modern Persian: ارشاما, Greek: Ἀρσάμης; – ca. 520 BC) was the son of Ariaramnes and perhaps briefly the king of Persia during the Achaemenid dynasty, but gave up the thone and defected to Cyrus II of Persia. In an inscription allegedly found in Hamadan he is called "king of Persia", but some scholars believe it is a fraud, either modern or ancient. Another attestation of his reign is the Behistun Inscription, where his grandson Darius I states that eight Achaemenid kings preceded him - and then, he must be counting Arsames as a king.

Arsames was father of Hystaspes, satrap of Parthia, and of Pharnaces. Arsames would live to see his grandson, Darius I, become the Great King of Media and Persia, though he would die during his reign.

[edit] References

• Arsames page at livius.org
• A. Sh. Shahbazi: "Arsama", in Encyclopaedia Iranica.

Achaemenid dynasty Born: ?? Died: c. 520 BC
Preceded by Ariamenes	King of Persia	Succeeded by Cyrus II