2. A Persian, son-in-law of Artaxerxes Mnemon. In the retreat of the Cyrean Greeks, when
Tissaphernes joined their march, twenty days after his solemn and hollow treaty with them,
Orontes accompanied him with a separate force under his command, and appears to have been a
party to the treachery, by which the principal Greek generals were decoyed into the power of
the Persians. He EVAGORAS,
the fleet being committed to Tiribazus. In 385, Tiribazus offered Evagoras certain conditions
of peace, which the latter was willing to accept, protesting only against the requisition that
he should acknowledge himself the mere vassal of Persia, and claiming the title of king.
Hereupon Orontes, jealous of Tiribazus, wrote to court accusing him of treason, and obtained
in answer an order to arrest his colleague, and to take upon himself the sole command of the
forces. But Tiribazus was a favourite with the army, and the general dissatisfaction, together
with wome desertions, alarmed Orontes for the result of the war. He hastened therefore to make
peace with Evagoras, on the very terms on which the latter had before insisted, and which
Tiribazus had refused to grant. Not long after this, the trial of Tiribazus took place. The
judges appointed by Artaxerxes unanimously acquitted him, and Orontes was disgraced, and lost
the royal favour. (Diod.15.2-4, 8-11; Isocr. Evag. p. 201d; Theopomp. ap.
Phot. Bibl. 176; Wess. ad Diod. 14.26; Clint. F. H. vol. ii. App. xii.)