Artaxerxes II, also known as Mnemon, was king of the Achaemenid Empire from 404 to 358 BC. J.-C. He succeeded his father, Darius II, and inherited an empire plagued by rebellions and internal strife. His reign was marked by efforts to maintain the integrity of the empire and restore Achaemenid authority in Egypt.
Historical context
The reign of Artaxerxes II comes after that of Darius II, which had left an empire weakened and plagued by rebellions. When Artaxerxes II acceded to the throne, Egypt had already regained its independence and founded the XXIXth dynasty under the leadership of Nepherites I.
Attempts to reconquer Egypt
Artaxerxes II made several attempts to reconquer Egypt and restore Achaemenid authority over the territory. He launched several military campaigns against the Egyptians, but these ended in failures or temporary successes. Despite his efforts, Artaxerxes II failed to regain control of Egypt for a long time.
Diplomatic and cultural relations
Despite military conflicts, the reign of Artaxerxes II was also marked by cultural and diplomatic exchanges between Egypt and the Achaemenid Empire. Some Egyptians, especially members of the elite, continued to have relations with the Persians, and Persian cultural influences appeared in Egyptian art and architecture of the time.
📋 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 | ||