Xerxes I, The Ambitious King of Persia Who Failed to Conquer Greece

Xerxes I, known as Khshayārshā in Old Persian, was born around 519 BCE. He was the son of Darius I, the ruler of the Persian Empire, and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great. Despite having an older half-brother, Xerxes was chosen to succeed his father due to his mother's influential lineage, being a descendant of the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty.
When Xerxes ascended to the throne in 485 BCE, he inherited a vast empire and an ongoing conflict with Greece that his father had initiated. Darius I's ambitious plan to conquer Greece had been put on hold due to his death, and Xerxes saw it as his mission to continue this legacy.

Xerxes I relief from his Tomb in Naqsh Rostam

Suppression of Rebellions and the Invasion of Greece

Xerxes began his reign by suppressing revolts in Egypt and Babylon, regions that were crucial to maintaining the stability of his empire. His decisive actions in quelling these rebellions demonstrated his intent to establish his authority early in his rule.
With internal threats managed, Xerxes turned his focus to Greece. Motivated by revenge for the Persian defeat at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, he launched one of the most massive military campaigns of the ancient world. In 480 BCE, Xerxes led an enormous army—estimated to include around 200,000 soldiers and over a thousand ships—across the Hellespont (modern-day Dardanelles) using a bridge of boats, an engineering feat that symbolized his determination and the sheer scale of his forces.

Lancers, detail from the archers' frieze in Darius' palace in Susa. Glazed siliceous bricks, c. 510 BC. Persian archers, who shot with their bows at cheek height, were the most skilful in the world. According to Herodotus, the Persians ‘taught their children, from the age of five to the age of twenty, just three things: how to ride a horse, shoot an arrow and tell the truth.’ - Louvre Museum, Paris

Battles and Turning Points in Greece

Xerxes' invasion initially met with success. His forces defeated the Greeks at the famous Battle of Thermopylae, where the Spartan king Leonidas and his small contingent of warriors made a legendary last stand. Despite this victory, the Persians soon faced significant setbacks.
The turning point came during the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE. Themistocles, the Athenian general, lured the Persian navy into the narrow straits near Salamis. The Greek fleet, more agile and familiar with the waters, devastated the larger but less maneuverable Persian ships. Xerxes watched this disastrous defeat from a throne he had set up on a hill, witnessing firsthand the collapse of his grand naval strategy.
After Salamis, Xerxes returned to Persia, leaving his cousin Mardonius in charge of the remaining forces. However, in 479 BCE, the Greeks won decisive victories at Plataea and Mycale, effectively ending Persian ambitions in Greece.

Decline and Assassination

Following these failures, Xerxes' focus shifted from military conquests to architectural and cultural projects. He oversaw the completion of the magnificent city of Persepolis and expanded Darius I's palace in Susa, showcasing the wealth and grandeur of the Persian Empire. However, these later years were marked by political instability and palace intrigues, reflecting a decline in Xerxes' authority and his increasing detachment from effective governance.
Xerxes' reign ended abruptly in 465 BCE when he was assassinated in a palace conspiracy led by Artabanus, the commander of his guard. This internal coup also claimed the life of his eldest son, clearing the path for his younger son Artaxerxes I to ascend to the throne.

Legacy and Representation

Xerxes I is depicted in various forms of Persian art, often showing him as a majestic ruler dressed in a long tunic with intricate designs, a crown symbolizing his royal status, and holding a bow—a sign of power and readiness for battle. These artistic representations emphasize his royal authority and idealized features, adhering to the aesthetic standards of Achaemenid portraiture.
In historical accounts, especially those written by the Greek historian Herodotus, Xerxes is portrayed as a complex figure — ambitious, yet ultimately unable to fulfill his grand ambitions of conquering Greece. His failures against the Greeks not only marked a turning point for the Persian Empire but also began a gradual decline that would culminate with the conquests of Alexander the Great a century later.

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Last update: October 13, 2024

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