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ACHAEMENIAN DYNASTY
559 B.C. - 330 B.C.
Click map to enlarge
The Achaemenian Dynasty was a royal family that ruled over
Persia and, beginning with Cyrus
the Great, also over
Media.
PRONOUNCE ACHAEMENIAN
The Achaemenian Dynasty was
named after Achaemenes. Some also call it the Achaemenid
Dynasty. In the Persian
language, Achaemenes's name is Hakhamanish.
Achaemenes lived sometime during the 7th
century B.C.
FOUNDER OF THE ACHAEMENIAN DYNASTY
Interestingly, history doesn't care too
much about Achaemenes himself and rather points to the year 559 B.C.
as the beginning of the Achaemenian Dynasty. Why is that?
Because in 559 B.C. Cyrus the Great, who was the great-grandson of Achaemenes,
became king. At
that time, the Babylonians were the ruling world power. In 539 B.C.,
twenty years after becoming king, Cyrus the Great seriously kicked
Babylonian rears and established the huge Persian Empire.
Hence, Cyrus the Great is regarded as
the official founder of the Achaemenian Dynasty. Dynasty is also the
name of an
electric car corporation and, for those of you who have been too busy
in the 80s - a
TV
series. Just in case you were wondering.
THE ACHAEMENIAN
RULERS
Here is the list of
all Achaemenian rulers in order of their rule:
|
KING
|
Lived |
Ruled |
|
Achaemenes |
? |
? |
|
Teispes
- son of Achaemenes |
? |
675 (?) - 640 (?) BC |
|
Cyrus I
- son of Teispes |
? |
? |
|
Cambyses I
- son of Cyrus I |
? |
600 (?) - 559 BC |
|
Cyrus II the Great
- son of Cambyses I |
590-580 - 529 BC |
560 - 529 BC |
|
Cambyses II
- son of Cyrus II |
? |
529 - 522 BC |
|
Darius I the Great
- son of Hystaspes, son of Arsames, son of Ariaramnes, son of Teispes |
550 - 486 BC |
522 - 486 BC |
|
Xerxes I
- son of Darius I |
519 (?) - 465 BC |
486 - 465 BC |
|
Artaxerxes I Longimanus
- son of Xerxes I |
? - 425 BC |
465 - 425 BC |
|
Darius II Ochus
- son of Artaxerxes I |
? - 404 BC |
423 - 404 BC |
|
Artaxerxes II
- son of Darius II |
? |
404 - 359/358 BC |
|
Artaxerxes III
- son of Artaxerxes II |
? - 338 BC |
359/358 - 338 BC |
|
Arses
- son of Artaxerxes III |
? - 336 BC |
338 - 336 BC |
|
Darius III
- son of Arsames, son of Ostanes, son of Darius II Ochus |
? - 330 BC |
336 - 330 BC |
THE CAPITALS OF THE ACHAEMENIAN
RULERS
Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Susa
(some say Shushan) were the capitals of the Persian Empire.
You can find these cities on
this
map.
Pasargadae was the first capital. Later, Darius I, Xerxes I, and
others built the new capital at Persepolis, which was close to
Pasargadae. Darius I built an impressive palace at Susa, which
became eventually the capital.
END OF THE ACHAEMENIAN
DYNASTY
Alexander the Great made
Darius
III the last ruler of the Achaemenian Dynasty.
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