Category:Artaxerses I (subject)
Artaxerses I was King of Persia, from 465 BCE to 424 BCE.
- Persian Kings: ... -> Xerses I -> Artaxerses I -> Darius II -> ...
Overview
Artaxerses I was the son of Xerses I (and Amestris) and his successor to the throne. He inherited a difficult situation, after the defeats in Greece and the autonomist uprisings in Egypt. The rivalry between Athens and Sparta released much of the pressure and allowed Persia to reorganize and regain its strength.
Artaxerse I and the Jews
As King of Persia, Artaxarses I ruled over Judah. In his 20th year (445 BCE), Nehemiah, a Jew who was the king's cupbearer, managed to be appointed as the governor of Judah. (The "Artaxerses" mentioned in the Ezra material is more likely Artaxerses II.)
The relation between Artaxerses I and Nehemiah remains unclear. What Nehemiah did was the personal initiative of a royal officer rewarded by his grateful king, or was it part of a larger strategy by the Persian King to secure the border with Egypt by reducing the autonomy and power of the Beyond-the-Euphrates satrapy? However it was, the decision of Artaxerses I had a tremendous impact in Jewish political and religious life and the reforms introduced by Nehemiah with the support of the King were a landmark event in Second Temple Jewish history.
Artaxerses I in ancient sources
- Artaxerses I (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
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