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Xerxes the Great: The Persian King Who Conquered Greece and Spread His Empire Far and Wide

Gabriel Blair

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Published in Xerxes (Annotated) Jacob Abbott

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Xerxes the Great was one of the most powerful and influential kings in history. He ruled the Persian Empire from 486 to 465 BC, and during his reign he conquered Greece and expanded his empire to its greatest extent. Xerxes was a skilled military leader and a ruthless conqueror, but he was also a patron of the arts and sciences. He built magnificent palaces, including the famous Persepolis, and he encouraged the development of new technologies and ideas. Xerxes' reign was a time of great prosperity and expansion for the Persian Empire, but it also ended in tragedy. Xerxes was assassinated in 465 BC, and his empire soon fell into decline.

Xerxes (Annotated)

by Jacob Abbott

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1989 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	204 pages

Early Life and Rise to Power

Xerxes was born in 519 BC to King Darius I and Queen Atossa. He was the eldest son and heir to the throne. Xerxes was a skilled warrior and a gifted administrator. He served as a general in his father's army and helped to put down several rebellions. In 486 BC, Darius died and Xerxes succeeded him to the throne.

Xerxes was an ambitious king and he quickly set out to expand his empire. He began by conquering Egypt in 484 BC. He then turned his attention to Greece. In 480 BC, Xerxes invaded Greece with a massive army and navy. He defeated the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae, but he was unable to capture Athens. The Greeks eventually defeated Xerxes at the Battle of Salamis, and Xerxes was forced to retreat.

Conquests and Expansion

Despite his defeat in Greece, Xerxes continued to expand his empire. He conquered Thrace, Macedonia, and Illyria. He also invaded India and Scythia. By the end of his reign, the Persian Empire stretched from the Indus River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Xerxes was a ruthless conqueror, but he was also a skilled administrator. He introduced a new system of government and taxation, and he encouraged the development of trade and commerce. He also built magnificent palaces, including the famous Persepolis. Persepolis was the capital of the Persian Empire and it was one of the most beautiful and luxurious cities in the world.

Patron of the Arts and Sciences

Xerxes was a patron of the arts and sciences. He supported the development of new technologies and ideas. He also encouraged the study of philosophy, history, and literature. Xerxes' court was a center of learning and culture.

Xerxes was a great admirer of Greek culture. He brought Greek artists and architects to Persepolis and he encouraged the study of Greek language and literature. Xerxes also commissioned the translation of Greek works into Persian.

Assassination and Decline

Xerxes was assassinated in 465 BC by Artabanus, a high-ranking official in the Persian court. Artabanus was jealous of Xerxes' power and he feared that Xerxes would eventually execute him. After Xerxes' assassination, his empire soon fell into decline. His son, Artaxerxes I, succeeded him to the throne, but he was a weak and indecisive ruler. The Persian Empire gradually lost territory and power, and it was eventually conquered by Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

Legacy

Xerxes the Great was one of the most powerful and influential kings in history. He conquered Greece and expanded his empire to its greatest extent. He was also a patron of the arts and sciences. Xerxes' reign was a time of great prosperity and expansion for the Persian Empire, but it also ended in tragedy. Xerxes was assassinated in 465 BC, and his empire soon fell into decline.

Xerxes is a controversial figure. He is remembered as a ruthless conqueror, but he was also a patron of the arts and sciences. He was a complex and contradictory figure, and his legacy is still debated today.