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Assassinations in History
Who
got slain, almost slain, when, how,
why, and by whom?
Go to the
Assassination Archive
Voyages in History
When did what
vessel arrive with whom onboard and where
did it sink if it didn't?
Go to the
Passage-Chart
The Divine Almanac
Who all roamed the heavens in
olden times? The Who's Who of
ancient gods.
Check out
the Divine Almanac
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Achaemenian Dynasty 559-330 BC
Above map illustrates the realm of the Achaemenian
dynasty. Click image to enlarge.
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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.
Who Was the Founder of
the Achaemenian Dynasty?
Interestingly, historians don't care too
much about Achaemenes himself and rather point to the year 559 B.C.
as the beginning of the Achaemenian dynasty. Why is that?
Because in 559 B.C.,
Cyrus II the Great, who was the great-grandson of Achaemenes,
became king and established the huge
Persian Empire.
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Hence, some regard Cyrus the Great as
the official founder of the Achaemenian dynasty.
Yet others name Cyrus' son,
Cambyses II, as the
founder of the Achaemenian dynasty.
The Achaemenian Rulers
Here is the list of
all Achaemenian rulers in order of their rule:
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KING
|
Lived |
Ruled |
|
Achaemenes |
? |
? |
|
|
|
Teispes
- son of Achaemenes |
? |
675 (?) - 640 (?) BC |
|
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Cyrus I
- son of Teispes |
? |
? |
|
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Cambyses I
- son of Cyrus I |
? |
600 (?) - 559 BC |
|
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Cyrus II the Great
- son of Cambyses I |
590-580 - 529 BC |
559 - 529 BC |
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Cambyses II
- son of Cyrus II |
? |
529 - 522 BC |
|
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Darius I the Great
- son of Hystaspes, son of Arsames, son of Ariaramnes, son of Teispes |
550 - 486 BC |
522 - 486 BC |
|
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Xerxes I
- son of Darius I |
519 (?) - 465 BC |
486 - 465 BC |
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Artaxerxes I Longimanus
- son of Xerxes I |
? - 425 BC |
465 - 425 BC |
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Darius II Ochus
- son of Artaxerxes I |
? - 404 BC |
423 - 404 BC |
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Artaxerxes II
- son of Darius II |
? |
404 - 359/358 BC |
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Artaxerxes III
- son of Artaxerxes II |
? - 338 BC |
359/358 - 338 BC |
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Arses
- son of Artaxerxes III |
? - 336 BC |
338 - 336 BC |
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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 spell it
Shushan) were the capitals of the
Persian Empire.
You can find these cities on
this
map.
Why so many capitals?
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.
See also the chart
Governments in History.
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