Jerjes I (c. 519-465 a.C.), king of Persia (486-465 a.C.), son of Darío I and Atosa, daughter of Ciro II the Great one. Jerjes, member of the dynasty of the Aqueménidas, raised the throne to the death of its father, it eliminated a rebellion in Egypt and later it passed three years preparing a great fleet and an army to punish the Greeks to help to the cities jonias in the 498 a.C and by their victory over the Persians in Maratón in the 490 a.C. The Greek historian Heródoto bases the naval and terrestrial force of Jerjes in the incredible number of 2.641.610 soldiers. One says that Jerjes crossed the Helesponto (present Straits of the Dardanelles) through a boat bridge of more of a kilometer of length and that made a channel in the isthmus of the Athos mount. During the spring of the 480 a.C., in the beginning of the second Medical War, Jerjes marched with its forces through Thrace, Tesalia and Lócrida. In the passage of the Termópilas, Spartan king Leónidas I and his army defended the place valiantly, delaying the Persian advance ten days. Jerjes later continued towards the Ática and burned Athens, that had been left by the Greeks. Nevertheless, in the battle of Salamina in the 480 a.C., its fleet was defeated by a much smaller contingent of Greek boats military commanded by the Temístocles athenian. Then Jerjes retired to Smaller Asia, leaving to its army in Greece under the command of its brother-in-law, Mardonio, that died in Silverplates the following year. Jerjes was assassinated in Persépolis by the captain of the palace guard; his son Artajerjes I happened to him (who reigned in 465-425 a.C.). Jerjes normally is identified like Ahasuerus in Libro de Esther.
credits: encarta article (f3) "Jerjes I." Microsoft® Encarta® 2006 [CD]. Microsoft Corporation, 2005.
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