A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀριαβίγνης), the son of Dareius, and one of the commanders of the fleet of his brother Xerxes, fell in the battle of Salamis, B. C. 480. (Hdt. 7.97, 8.89.) Plutarch calls him (Them. 100.14) Ariamenes, and speaks of him as a brave man and the justest of the brothers of Xerxes. The same writer relates (de Fratern. Am. p. 448; comp. Apophth. p. 173), that this Ariamenes (called by Justin, 2.10, Artemenes) laid claim to the throne on the death of Dareius, as the eldest of his sons, but was opposed by Xerxes, who maintained that he had a right to the crown as the eldest of the sons born after Dareius had become king. The Persians appointed Artabanus to decide the dispute; and upon his declaring in favour of Xerxes, Ariamenes immediately saluted his brother as king, and was treated by him with great respect. According to Herodotus (7.2), who calls the eldest son of Dareius, Artabazanes, this dispute took place in the life-time of Dareius.