Artaxerxes III, also known as Ochos, was a Persian king of the Achaemenid dynasty who reigned from 358 BC. AD to 338 BC. He is particularly famous for his conquest of Egypt and his reign as ruler of that nation.
Context and rise to power
Artaxerxes III became king after the death of his father, Artaxerxes II, and quickly consolidated his power by eliminating potential rivals. Once he established his authority in Persia, he turned to Egypt, which had broken free from Persian rule during his father's reign.
The Egyptian campaign
In 343 BC. AD, Artaxerxes III launched a military campaign to reconquer Egypt. It first encountered fierce resistance from the Egyptians led by Pharaoh Nectanebo II, but Persian forces eventually succeeded in capturing the Egyptian capital, Memphis. The victory was largely attributed to the tactics of Artaxerxes III, who was able to exploit Egypt's internal divisions and economic problems.
Administration of Egypt
After conquering Egypt, Artaxerxes III established a Persian-style government in the country, appointing satraps (governors) to administer the various Egyptian provinces. However, it also adopted certain Egyptian customs and traditions to ensure stability and support from the local population. For example, he participated in Egyptian religious rituals and financed the construction and renovation of Egyptian temples.
Foreign policy and alliance with Greece
During his reign as ruler of Egypt, Artaxerxes III also faced the rise of Greece, particularly Macedonia under King Philip II. In order to counter this threat, Artaxerxes III sought to form alliances with the Greek city-states and to support the enemies of Macedonia. This foreign policy was partly motivated by a desire to protect his Egyptian possessions from Macedonian ambitions.
Revolts and internal disturbances
Despite Artaxerxes III's efforts to win the support of the Egyptian population, revolts broke out in different parts of the country. The causes of these rebellions were varied, ranging from dissatisfaction with the Persian administration to local rivalries. Artaxerxes III put down these revolts with force, but they continued to threaten the stability of his rule in Egypt.
End of reign and legacy
Artaxerxes III died in 338 BC. J.-C., probably poisoned during a plot orchestrated by his vizier Bagoas.
Artaxerxes III's legacy as ruler of Egypt is complex. Although he succeeded in reconquering Egypt for the Persian Empire and establishing a degree of stability, his reign was also marked by revolts and continued instability. His efforts to adopt Egyptian customs and traditions contributed to the fusion of Persian and Egyptian cultures, but also sowed the seeds of Egyptian resistance to foreign rule.
Ultimately, Persian rule in Egypt was short-lived, as Alexander the Great conquered the country in 332 BC. AD, ending the Achaemenid presence in Egypt. Nonetheless, Artaxerxes III's period of rule in Egypt left a lasting impact on Egyptian history and culture, as well as on the relationship between Egypt and other powers in the region.
📋 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 | ||