| Artaxerxes II Mnemon | |
|---|---|
| Great King (Shah) of Persia | |
| Reign | 405-04 to 359-58 BC |
| Born | ca. 435 or 445 BC |
| Died | 358 BC |
| Predecessor | Darius II of Persia |
| Heir Apparent | Artaxerxes III of Persia |
| Successor | Artaxerxes III of Persia |
| Offspring | Artaxerxes III of Persia |
| Dynasty | Achaemenid |
| Father | Darius II of Persia |
| Mother | Parysatis |
Artaxerxes II Mnemon (Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠[1] Artaxšaçā, Ancient Greek: Ἀρταξέρξης) was king of Persia from 404 BC until his death. He was a son of Darius II of Persia and Parysatis.
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He defended his position against his brother Cyrus the Younger, who was defeated and killed at the Battle of Cunaxa in 401 BC, and against a revolt of the provincial governors, the satraps (366 – 358 BC). He also became involved in a war with Persia's erstwhile allies, the Spartans, who, under Agesilaus II, invaded Asia Minor. In order to redirect the Spartans attention to Greek affairs, Artaxerxes subsidized their enemies: in particular the Athenians, Thebans, and Corinthians. These subsidies helped to engage the Spartans in what would become known as the Corinthian War. In 386 BC, Artaxerxes II betrayed his allies and came to an arrangement with Sparta, and in the Treaty of Antalcidas he forced his erstwhile allies to come to terms. This treaty restored control of the Greek cities of Ionia and Aeolis on the Anatolian coast to the Persians, while giving Sparta dominance on the Greek mainland.
Although successful against the Greeks, Artaxerxes had more trouble with the Egyptians, who had successfully revolted against him at the beginning of his reign. An attempt to reconquer Egypt in 373 BC was completely unsuccessful, but in his waning years the Persians did manage to defeat a joint Egyptian–Spartan effort to conquer Phoenicia.
He is reported to have had a number of wives. His main wife was Stateira, until she was poisoned by Artaxerxes' mother Parysatis in about 400 BC. Another chief wife was a Greek woman of Phocaea named Aspasia (not the same as the concubine of Pericles). Artaxerxes II is said to have more than 115 sons from 350 wives.[2]
He also is said to have loved a young eunuch by the name of Tiridates, who died "as he was emerging from childhood". His death caused Artaxerxes enormous grief, and there was public mourning for him throughout the empire as an offering to the king from his subjects.[3][4]
He is identified as the Persian king Ahasuerus of the Purim story in traditional sources.
Much of Artaxerxes's wealth was spent on building projects. He restored the palace of Darius I at Susa,[5] and also the fortifications; including a strong redoubt at the southeast corner of the enclosure and gave Ecbatana a new apadana and sculptures. He seems not to have built much at Persepolis.
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Artaxerxes II of Persia
Born: c. 436 BC Died: 358 BC |
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| Preceded by Darius II |
Great King (Shah) of Persia 404 BC–358 BC |
Succeeded by Artaxerxes III |
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