Search results
Darius I (Old Persian: 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 Dārayavaʰuš; Greek: Δαρεῖος Dareios; c. 550 – 486 BCE), commonly known as Darius the Great, was a Persian ruler who served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his death in 486 BCE.
- Rise to Power
- Military Campaigns
- Greco-Persian Wars
- Government
- Economy & Building Projects
- Death & Legacy
The most important primary sources, that tell us about his life and reign, are his inscriptions, the most famous example being the trilingual inscription, in Akkadian or Babylonian, Elamite, and old Persian, carved on the Bisitun (Behistun) rock relief from the village of the same name and from his palace at Persepolis. Also, accounts about his rei...
Darius' rule was marked by vast military expeditions. After consolidating his power at home, he set off to secure the lands of Egypt, which had been conquered before by Cambyses, and in 519 BCE he incorporated a large part of Egypt into his empire. The following year, in 518 BCE, he conquered parts of India, namely northern Punjab as his inscriptio...
In 499 BCE, Aristagoras, the tyrant of Miletus, convinced the satrap Artaphernes to sponsor a campaign against Naxos. Darius gave his consent and named Megabates, Artaphemes's cousin, as commander of the Persian army. They were supposed to be supported and supplied by Aristagoras, but a quarrel between Megabates and Aristagoras resulted in the form...
The Persian Empire witnessed many improvements during Darius' reign. He established 20 provinces or satrapies, with an archon or satrap assigned to each. Neighbouring regions paid a fixed tribute; a fair amount was stipulated by a commission of Darius' trusted officials. He also improved the legal system of the Persian government, using the Babylon...
During his reign, Darius undertook impressive construction projects across the empire. In Susa, he built a palace complex in the northern part of the city, which became his favourite residence. A grand project in Persepolis followed; the palace complex included a military quarter, treasury, the king's quarters and guest house. Besides the palaces, ...
After the defeat at Marathon, Darius did not want to give up on his dream to conquer Greece. He vowed to gather an even larger army, this time leading it personally, to fight the Greeks. After three years of preparing, during which he became ill, a revolt broke out in Egypt that only worsened his condition. Darius died in October 486 BCE; his body ...
- Radu Cristian
Darius I (born 550 bc —died 486) was the king of Persia in 522–486 bc, one of the greatest rulers of the Achaemenid dynasty, who was noted for his administrative genius and for his great building projects.
- Darius the Great was an Achaemenid ruler noted for his administrative genius, his great building projects, and his benevolence toward the diverse p...
- Darius was a member of the royal bodyguard of Cambyses II, the son and heir of Cyrus the Great who ruled for several years before dying mysteriousl...
- Darius the Great helped unify the Achaemenid empire, which spanned a vast heterogeneous territory. Much of this unification was achieved through bu...
- Darius The Great Died Before He Could Conquer Greece. With Persia holding influence over several Ionian and Aegean cities, conflict with the emerging Greek city-states seemed inevitable.
- He Preached Religious Tolerance Across The Empire. One of Cyrus the Great‘s most enduring legacies was establishing a culture of religious tolerance across the empire.
- He Built Mighty Palaces And Royal Roads. To keep the Achaemenid Empire running efficiently, Darius the Great built on Persia’s existing infrastructure.
- Darius Was A Brilliant Administrator. While his conquests were impressive, Darius the Great’s true legacy lies in his incredible feats of administration.
Feb 11, 2019 · Learn about Darius I, who ruled Persia from 548 to 486 BC and expanded its empire. He was a skilled military leader and a brilliant organizer who divided the empire into provinces, issued coins, built roads and promoted trade.
Jul 21, 2019 · Learn about the life, achievements, and legacy of Darius the Great, the fourth Persian king who ruled the Achaemenid Empire at its peak. Find out how he claimed his throne, expanded his territory, and left his mark on history and culture.
Darius I, known as Darius the Great, (born 550—died 486 bc ), King of Persia (522–486 bc ). He was the son of Hystaspes, satrap of Parthia. Much of what is known of him is through his own inscriptions.
