Arses, who reigned from 338 BC. AD to 336 BC. was a Persian pharaoh of the XNUMXst Dynasty of Egypt, also known as Oarses or Aršā. Although his reign was short and marred by conflict, he left a lasting mark on Egyptian history.
Historical context
When Arses ascended the throne, Egypt had been under Persian rule for nearly a century. The Persians had conquered Egypt in 525 BC. AD under the reign of Cambyses II, inaugurating the 27th dynasty. However, Egypt had already experienced periods of independence and reconquest since then. Arses inherited a country whose population was unhappy with foreign domination and high tax pressure.
Domestic policy
Arses strove to strengthen his power in Egypt by adopting a conciliatory policy towards the Egyptian elites. He sought to appease the clergy by reducing taxes on temples and encouraging the restoration of sacred monuments. This policy allowed Arses to consolidate his position in Egypt and gain local support for his administration.
However, Arses also had to deal with internal rebellions, especially in the Nile Delta, where the population was dissatisfied with Persian rule. He managed to put down these rebellions, but it weakened his government and diverted resources that could have been used to strengthen Egypt's defense against external threats.
Foreign relations and conflicts
Arses' reign was marked by conflicts with neighboring powers, notably the Greeks and Macedonians. The Greeks, led by King Philip II of Macedon, sought to free the Greek city-states of Asia Minor from Persian rule. Arses therefore had to devote much of his energy and resources to defending his empire against the Greeks.
In 336 BC. BC, a revolt broke out in Asia Minor, supported by Philip II. Arses sent an army to put down the rebellion, but the Persian forces were defeated by the Macedonians. This defeat severely weakened Arses' position in Egypt and left the country vulnerable to a Macedonian invasion.
End of reign and legacy
The end of Arses' reign is shrouded in mystery. According to some sources, he was assassinated by conspirators led by Bagoas, a eunuch and high Persian court official. Other sources state that Arses was killed in action during a revolt in Egypt. Anyway, Arsès was replaced by Darius III
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||