A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

4. A Persian general, who was sent in B. C. 362, in the reign of Artaxerxes II., against the revolted Datames, satrap of Cappadocia, but was defeated by the bravery and resolution of the latter. (Diod. 15.91; comp. Thirlwall, Hist. of Greece, vi. p. 129.) In the reign of Artaxerxes III., Artabazus was satrap of western Asia, but in B. C. 356 he refused obedience to the king, which involved him in a war with the other satraps, who acknowledged the authority of Artaxerxes. He was at first supported by Chares, the Athenian, and his mercenaries, whom he rewarded very generously. Afterwards he was also supported by the Thebans, who sent him 5000 men under Pammenes. With the assistance of these and other allies, Artabazus defeated his enemies in two great battles. Artaxerxes, however, succeeded in depriving him of his Athenian and Boeotian allies, whereupon Artabazus was defeated by the king's general, Autophradates, and was even taken prisoner. The Rhodians, Mentor and Memnon, two brothers-in-law of Artabazus, who had like-wise supported him, still continued to maintain themselves, as they were aided by the Athenian Charidemus, and even succeeded in obtaining the liberation of Artabazus. After this, Artabazus seems either to have continued his rebellious operations, or at least to have commenced afterwards a fresh revolt; but he was at last obliged, with Memnon and his whole family, to take refuge with Philip of Macedonia. During the absence of Artabazus, Mentor, his brother-in-law, was of great service to the king of Persia in his war against Nectanebus of Egypt. After the close of this war, in B. C. 349, Artaxerxes gave to Mentor the command against the rebellious satraps of western Asia. Mentor availed himself of the opportunity to induce the king to grant pardon to Artabazus and Memnon, who accordingly obtained permission to return to Persia. (Diod. 16.22, 34, 52; Dem. c. Aristoer. p. 671, &c.) In the reign of Dareius Codomannus, Artabazus distinguished himself by his great fidelity and attachment to his sovereign. He took part in the battle of Arbela, and afterwards accompanied Dareius on his flight. After the death of the latter, Alexander rewarded Artabazus

for his fidelity with the satrapy of Bactria. His daughter, Barsine, became by Alexander the mother of Heracles; a second daughter, Artocama, was given in marriage to Ptolemy; and a third, Artonis, to Eumenes. In B. C. 328, Artabazus, then a man of very advanced age, resigned his satrapy, which was given to Cleitus. (Arrian, Arr. Anab. 3.23, 29, 7.4; Curtius, 3.13, 5.9, 12, 6.5, 7.3, 5, 8.1; Strab. xii. p.578; comp. Droysen, Gesch. Alex. des Gross. p. 497.)

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