Bessus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bessus |
|
|---|---|
| King of Kings Great King King of Persia |
|
_of_Firdausi_MET_(cropped).jpg)
|
|
| King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire | |
| Reign | 330–329 BC |
| Predecessor | Darius III |
| Successor | Alexander the Great (Macedonian Empire) |
| Died | 329 BC Ecbatana |
| Dynasty | Achaemenid dynasty |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Bessus (Old Persian: *Bayaçā) was a powerful Persian leader. He was a satrap, which was like a governor, of a region called Bactria in the eastern part of the Achaemenid Empire.
Bessus became known after he was involved in the death of the Persian king, Darius III. After Darius died, Bessus declared himself the new "King of Kings" of the Achaemenid Empire. He took the royal name Artaxerxes V. He tried to fight against the famous Macedonian king, Alexander the Great. However, Bessus's rule did not last long. His own officers eventually captured him and handed him over to Alexander, who had him executed.
Contents
Who Was Bessus?
Bessus was part of the ruling Achaemenid dynasty, the royal family of the Persian Empire. We don't know much about his early life. During the time of King Darius III (who ruled from 336 to 330 BC), Bessus was made the satrap of Bactria. This was a very important job in the eastern part of the empire.
Bactria was a rich and busy region. It had been under Achaemenid rule for a long time. There was a lot of farming, trade, and crafts happening there. Being the satrap of Bactria was almost like being a "vice-king of the east."
Bessus's Power
As satrap of Bactria, Bessus also controlled nearby areas like Sogdia and regions close to India. He was able to keep the loyalty of nomadic groups in Central Asia, like the Saka people. Some historians believe that these eastern regions were almost like Bessus's own personal kingdom.
After the Persians lost a big battle called the Battle of Issus in 333 BC against Alexander the Great, King Darius III asked Bessus for help.
Bessus and Alexander the Great
Bessus fought in another major battle against Alexander, the Battle of Gaugamela, in 331 BC. He brought many soldiers from Bactria, Sogdia, and India, along with his Saka allies. Bessus led the cavalry (soldiers on horseback) on the left side of the Persian army.
After the Persians lost this battle, Bessus fled with Darius III to a city called Ecbatana.
The Death of Darius III
In Ecbatana, Bessus and other Persian leaders made a plan against Darius III. They arrested Darius in the middle of 330 BC. Bessus was chosen to lead the Persian forces, probably because he was from the royal family.
Alexander the Great saw the arrest of Darius III as a reason to chase after them. Bessus and his group took Darius in a covered wagon, reportedly in golden chains. To gain time for their escape, Bessus and his co-conspirators killed Darius III. They left his body by the road in July 330 BC. Alexander later found Darius's body and had him buried with royal honors.
Bessus Becomes King
In the autumn of 330 BC, in the capital city of Bactria, Bactra, Bessus declared himself the new "King of Kings" of the Achaemenid Empire. He took the royal name Artaxerxes V. He hoped to defend the eastern part of the empire against Alexander.
His new kingdom included Bactria, Sogdia, and other regions. However, Bessus's new empire quickly began to fall apart. Many of his supporters either surrendered to Alexander or were defeated.
Bessus's Downfall
Bessus planned to defend Bactria and urged its people to fight for their freedom. He gathered about 8,000 Bactrian soldiers. But many of these soldiers left when they heard that Alexander had crossed the Hindu Kush mountains.
Instead of fighting, Bessus fled into Sogdia. He hoped to get help from other groups there. But his escape from Bactria made many of his supporters turn away from him.
Local leaders in Bactria and Sogdia realized they were on their own. They saw that Alexander was willing to let them keep their power if they cooperated. Alexander had also pardoned many of his former enemies. So, these local rulers began to see Bessus as a threat to their own safety.
Bessus was eventually arrested by his own Sogdian officers. They handed him over to Alexander's forces. Bessus was then sent to Ecbatana, where he was executed. Darius III's brother, Oxyathres, oversaw the execution.
Bessus in Stories
Bessus appears in a famous Persian epic poem from the 11th century called Shahnameh ("Book of Kings"). In this story, he is called Janusipar or Janushyar.
In the Shahnameh, Janusipar and another character named Mahyar kill King Dara II (Darius III). They then try to talk with Iskandar (Alexander). After Dara's funeral, Iskandar has Janusipar and Mahyar executed.
See also
In Spanish: Bessos para niños
