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Darius III: The Last Persian King in the Shadow of Alexander the Great

Ken Simmons

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Darius III, the last king of the Achaemenid Empire, reigned over Persia from 336 to 330 BC. His reign was marked by the rise of Alexander the Great and the subsequent collapse of the Persian Empire. Darius was a capable military leader and a skilled diplomat, but he was ultimately unable to withstand the onslaught of Alexander's armies.

Early Life and Reign

Darius III was born in 380 BC to Artaxerxes III and his queen, Stateira. He was a member of the Achaemenid dynasty, which had ruled Persia for over two centuries. Darius was a skilled military leader and a successful diplomat. He defeated several rebellions and expanded the Persian Empire. He also negotiated a peace treaty with the Greeks after the Battle of Granicus.

Darius in the Shadow of Alexander

by Pierre Briant

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	602 pages
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The Invasion of Alexander the Great

In 334 BC, Alexander the Great invaded the Persian Empire. Darius III met Alexander's army at the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. The Persian army was larger and better equipped than Alexander's, but Alexander's superior tactics and leadership led to a decisive victory for the Greeks. Darius III fled the battlefield, leaving his family and his kingdom behind.

The Flight and Death of Darius III

After the Battle of Issus, Darius III fled to the Persian capital, Persepolis. He was pursued by Alexander's army, and he was eventually captured and killed by his own satraps, who had betrayed him. Darius III was the last king of the Achaemenid Empire. His death marked the end of one of the greatest empires in history.

Legacy

Darius III was a complex and controversial figure. He was a capable military leader and a skilled diplomat, but he was also indecisive and prone to making mistakes. He was ultimately unable to withstand the onslaught of Alexander the Great's armies, and his death marked the end of the Persian Empire.

Darius III was the last king of the Achaemenid Empire. He was a capable military leader and a skilled diplomat, but he was ultimately unable to withstand the onslaught of Alexander the Great's armies. His death marked the end of one of the greatest empires in history.