Artaxerxes I of Persia: Difference between revisions

Artaxerxes I of Persia, known simply as Artaxerxes during his exile, was King of the Achaemenid Empire and Pharaoh of Egypt during the 5th century BCE. The son of Xerxes I, he succeeded his father after his assassination in 465 BCE. Throughout his lifetime, Artaxerxes fathered numerous children, including the future king Darius II.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Artaxerxes' father Xerxes I and grandfather Darius I were close allies of the Order of the Ancients, a powerful organization who aided in their conquests and expansions.^[1] After Xerxes' assassination in 465 BCE, Artaxerxes ascended the throne as King. Xerxes' assassin Artabanus, fearing Artaxerxes would also be manipulated by the Order, plotted his preemptive assassination, but it was halted by Artabanus' close friend and Persian elite Amorges, who had joined the Order and called for the guards. As a result, Artaxerxes' life was spared and Artabanus was forced to flee, adopting "Darius" as his new name.^[2]

Early in his reign as a child king, Artaxerxes befriended Themistokles, a former Athenian general who had been ostracized and fled to Persia. Themistokles tutored the young king and told him many stories of the wonders of Greece; before Themistokles' death, Artaxerxes promised his tutor that he would see each of the great landmarks he had been told about.^[3]

Exile from Persia[edit | edit source]

At some point, Artaxerxes became aware of the Order's activities and his predecessors' connection to them. However, he refused to yield to the Order's promises of power or threats, which led the Order to attempt to have him dethroned.^[4] They manipulated Artaxerxes' brother Hystaspes to have him overthrown and assassinated,^[3] then took advantage of Darius' status as a fugitive and framed him for the murder.^[4] Despite losing his sight to the assassins' poison, Artaxerxes nevertheless managed to survive and escape. Faking his death and fleeing Persia, Artaxerxes traveled to Greece, where he sought refuge in the city of Megara, Megaris.^[3]

Sometime in 424 BCE, Artaxerxes made the acquaintance of Kassandra, a misthios who, unbeknownst to him at the time, was also King Leonidas I's granddaughter. Artaxerxes reminisced to Kassandra about the stories Themistokles told of his homeland and how he wished to see the landmarks his tutor and friend has described. Kassandra agreed to visit each of the landmarks and retell her experiences to Artaxerxes. Once her quest was complete, Artaxerxes thanked and rewarded her.^[3]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

Artaxerxes is a historical figure who first appeared in the 2018 video game Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, where he was voiced by the Cypriot actor Alkis Kritikos. Historically, Artaxerxes I reigned over Persia until his death in 424 BCE at Susa, while in-game it is possible to interact with him up to and beyond his documented death date.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Close up view of Artaxerxes
Artaxerxes praying and begging outside the temple in Megara

Appearances[edit | edit source]

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
- Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted (mentioned only)
- Legacy of the First Blade: Bloodline (mentioned only)

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted – Shadow of a Legend
↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted – Protector of Persia
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Prince of Persia
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Bloodline – Smoke and Fury

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Characters

Assassins	Layla Hassan • Victoria Bibeau • Kiyoshi Takakura • Alannah Ryan • Harlan Cunningham \| Amunet \| Kassandra (Ikaros) • Darius

Cult of Kosmos	Aspasia • Deimos • Nyx (Elpenor • Sotera • The Master • Hermippos • Midas) • Polemon (Epiktetos • The Centaur of Euboea • The Chimera • The Silver Griffin • Machaon) • Kleon (Brison • Podarkes • Rhexenor • Iobates • Kodros) • Exekias (Pallas • Deianeira • Belos • Swordfish • Okytos) • Iokaste (Melite • Harpalos • Zoisme • Diona • Chrysis) • The Hydra (The Mytilenian Shark • Melanthos • The Octopus • Sokos • Asterion) • Pausanias (Skylax • The Monger • Lagos • Kallias • Silanos)

Templars / Order of the Ancients	Juhani Otso Berg \| Amorges • Pactyas (Akantha • Bubares • Echion • Konon • Phratagounè • Timosa • Order Elite) • Phila (Augos • Nestor • Megakreon • Sophos) • The Immortals • Gergis (Artazostre • Dimokrates • Pithias • Gaspar • Harpagos) \| Xerxes I

Isu	Aletheia \| Persephone • Hades • Poseidon • Hermes • Hekate • Atlas • Gadiros • Ampheres • Azaes • Neokles • Aita • Juno • Melitta • Xarios

Olympos Project	Cyclops (Brontes • Steropes • Arges) • Writhing Dread (Medusa • Ligeia) • Minotaur • Sphinx • Cerberos • Lycanthropes (Lyra) • Hekatonchires

Mercenaries	Kassandra the Eagle-Bearer • Exekias the Legend • Talos the Stone-Fist • Sosipatros the Archon's Servant • The Poisoner • The False Leonidas • Zetes the Retired • Hyrkanos the Cunning • Agis of the North • Theos the Stargazer • Gaia the Fist • Exadios the Backbreaker • Edonos the Charging Bull • Atos the Beast Caller • Hirpes the Sordid • Aias the Clean • Kephalon the Thinker • Proktos the Moon King • "Eagle Bearer" (Chikaros) • Polykaste the Jilted • Narkissos the Babbler • Nestor the Great • Testiklos the Nut • Harpina the Heavy Hitter • Iaeira the Overcomer • Damais the Indifferent • Astarte the Swamp • Nanno the Abakos • Okyllos the Successor • Thaleia the Talon Hand • Laches the Eternal • Abia the Shaded \| Cyclops of Kephallonia • The Poisoner of Athens • Testikles the Olympian • Deianeira the Boeotian Champion • Epiktetos the Forthcoming • Swordfish of Octopus Bay • The Monger of Korinthia • Achilles the Trojan War Hero • King Agamemnon of Mycenae • Herakles the Legendary • Perseus the Gorgon Slayer

Love interests	Aikaterine • Alkibiades • Anais • Aspasia • Auxesia • Daphnae • Diona • Kosta • Kyra • Lykaon • Lykinos • Mikkos • Odessa • Roxana • Thaletas • Thyia • Timotheos • Xenia • Zopheras • "Eagle Bearer" • Natakas \| Adonis • Elpis

Others	Archidamos • Aristophanes • Artaxerxes I • Barnabas • Brasidas • Darius II • Demokritos • Elpidios • Euripides • Herodotos • Hippokrates • Iola • Markos • Myrrine • Nikolaos • Perikles • Phidias • Polykleitos • Praxilla • Pythagoras • Phoibe • Sargon • Sophokles • Sokrates • Thespis • Thrasymachos \| Leonidas • Dienekes • Kurush

Factions

Assassins (Layla Hassan's cell | Protectors of Persia) | Templars (Abstergo Industries • Sigma Team | Order of the Ancients) • Cult of Kosmos • Delian League • Peloponnesian League • Achaemenid Empire • Minor factions (Daughters of Artemis • Followers of Ares • The Dagger • Periklean Circle)

Locations

United Kingdom (London) | Egypt (Giza) | Isu Locations (Atlantis (Gateway to the Lost City) • Ancient Forge • Cave of Mt. Zas • Cave of the Forgotten Isle • Myson Cave • Nisyros • Sphinx Lair • Labyrinth of Lost Souls • Petrified Temple • Teichos of Herakles) • Greece • Aegean Sea (Andros) • Volcanic Islands (Thera • Anaphi • Nisyros) • Krete (Messara (Gortyn) • Pephka) • Kythera Island • Melos • Attika Peninsula (Attika (Athens • Dekelia • Lavrio • Port of Piraeus) • Boeotia (Lake Kopais • Mykalessos • Orchomenos • Thebes) • Megaris (Megara • Pagai)) • Forest Islands (Thasos • Abantis Islands (Euboea • Skyros) • Petrified Islands (Chios • Lesbos)) • Kephallonia Islands (Kephallonia (Sami) • Ithaka) • Korinthian Gulf • Peloponnese (Arkadia (Tegea) • Argolis (Argos • Epidauros) • Achaia (Dyme • Patrai • Pellene) • Elis • Korinthia (Korinth) • Lakonia (Sparta) • Messenia) • Pirate Islands (Keos (Koressia) • Seriphos • Lestris) • Paradise Islands (Delos • Mykonos • Naxos Island • Paros Island) • Southern Sporades (Samos • Kradia Isle • Kos) • Northern Greece (Lokris • Makedonia (Amphipolis • Potidaia) • Malis • Phokis (Kirrha)) • Afterlife (Elysium • Underworld)

Events

Search for the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus | Peloponnesian War (Battle of Amphipolis • Battle of Pylos) • Plague of Athens | Greco-Persian Wars (Battle of Thermopylae)

Terms and concepts

Achievements • Ainigmata Ostraka • Crafting • Customization • Currencies (Drachma • Orichalcum) • Dual-wielding • Eagle Vision • Engraving • Genetic memory • Helix Credits • Historical Locations • Leap of Faith • Memories • Message boards • Outfits • Photo Mode • Pieces of Eden (Artifact Fragment • Atlantis Artifacts • Pyramid • Spear of Leonidas • Staff of Hermes Trismegistus • Sword of Damokles) • Ships (Adrestia) • Skills • Social stealth • Story Creator Mode • Swimming • Viewpoints

Weapons and tools

Bows • Blunt weapons • Swords • Spears • Shields

DLC

The Blind King • Secrets of Greece • Legacy of the First Blade (Hunted • Shadow Heritage • Bloodline) • The Fate of Atlantis (Fields of Elysium • Torment of Hades • Judgment of Atlantis) • The Lost Tales of Greece • Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Era|Individuals}}
+{{Era|Individuals}}{{WP-REAL}}
-{{WP-REAL}}
-{{Spoilerhd|5 January 2019}}
-{{Imageneed}}
-{{Stub}}
 {{Character Infobox
 |name = Artaxerxes I of Persia
-|image = ACOD Artaxerxes I of Persia.png
+|image = ACOD Artaxerxes I render.png
-|birth
+|active = c. 465 BCE – c. 422 BCE<br>[[Achaemenid Empire]] and [[Megara]], [[Megaris]], [[Greece]]
-|death =
-|active = 465 BCE – 431 BCE<br>[[Achaemenid Empire]] and [[Megara]], [[Megaris]], [[Greece]]
 |species = [[Human]]
 |affiliates = [[Achaemenid Empire]]
-|voice = }}
+}}
-'''Artaxerxes I of Persia''', known simply as '''Artaxerxes''' during his exile, was King of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] and Pharaoh of [[Egypt]] during the 5th century BCE. The son of [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes I]], he succeeded his father after his assassination in 465 BCE by [[Darius]].
+'''Artaxerxes I of Persia''', known simply as '''Artaxerxes''' during his exile, was King of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] and [[Pharaoh]] of [[Egypt]] during the 5th century BCE. The son of [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes I]], he succeeded his father after his [[assassination]] in 465 BCE. Throughout his lifetime, Artaxerxes fathered numerous children, including the future king [[Darius II of Persia|Darius II]].
 ==Biography==
-A child king, Artaxerxes befriended [[Themistocles]], a former [[Athens|Athenian]] general who had been [[ostracization|ostracized]] and fled to Persia, early in his reign. Themistocles tutored the young king and told him many stories of the wonders of Greece; before Themistocles death, Artxerxes promised his tutor that he would see each of the great landmarks he had been told about.
+===Early life===
+Artaxerxes' father Xerxes I and grandfather [[Darius I of Persia|Darius I]] were close allies of the [[Order of the Ancients]], a powerful organization who aided in their conquests and expansions.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]] – [[Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted]]'' – [[Shadow of a Legend]]</ref> After Xerxes' assassination in 465 BCE, Artaxerxes ascended the throne as King. Xerxes' assassin [[Darius|Artabanus]], fearing Artaxerxes would also be manipulated by the Order, plotted his preemptive assassination, but it was halted by Artabanus' close friend and [[Iran|Persian]] elite [[Amorges]], who had joined the Order and called for the guards. As a result, Artaxerxes' life was spared and Artabanus was forced to flee, adopting "Darius" as his new name.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted'' – [[Protector of Persia]]</ref>
-Artaxerxes' [[Hystaspes|brother]] later plotted to overthrow him, and hired Darius to assassinate Artaxerxes via poison. Artaxerxes managed to escape, though he did lose his sight in the process, and fled Persia. He travelled to [[Greece]] where he sought refuge in the city of [[Megara]], [[Megaris]].<ref name="The Blind King">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[The Blind King]]</ref>
+Early in his reign as a child king, Artaxerxes befriended [[Themistokles]], a former [[Athens|Athenian]] general who had been [[Ostracism|ostracized]] and fled to Persia. Themistokles tutored the young king and told him many stories of the wonders of Greece; before Themistokles' death, Artaxerxes promised his tutor that he would see each of the great landmarks he had been told about.<ref name="Prince of Persia">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Prince of Persia]]</ref>
-==Appearance==
+===Exile from Persia===
-*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''
+At some point, Artaxerxes became aware of the Order's activities and his predecessors' connection to them. However, he refused to yield to the Order's promises of power or threats, which led the Order to attempt to have him dethroned.<ref name="SmokeAndFury">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]] – [[Legacy of the First Blade: Bloodline]]'' – [[Smoke and Fury]]</ref> They manipulated Artaxerxes' brother [[Hystaspes]] to have him overthrown and assassinated,<ref name="Prince of Persia"/> then took advantage of Darius' status as a fugitive and framed him for the murder.<ref name="SmokeAndFury"/> Despite losing his sight to the assassins' [[poison]], Artaxerxes nevertheless managed to survive and escape. Faking his death and fleeing Persia, Artaxerxes traveled to [[Greece]], where he sought refuge in the city of [[Megara]], [[Megaris]].<ref name="Prince of Persia" />
-==Reference==
+Sometime in 424 BCE, Artaxerxes made the acquaintance of [[Kassandra]], a ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' who, unbeknownst to him at the time, was also King [[Leonidas I of Sparta|Leonidas I]]'s granddaughter. Artaxerxes reminisced to Kassandra about the stories Themistokles told of his homeland and how he wished to see the landmarks his tutor and friend has described. Kassandra agreed to visit each of the landmarks and retell her experiences to Artaxerxes. Once her quest was complete, Artaxerxes thanked and rewarded her.<ref name="Prince of Persia"/>
+==Behind the scenes==
+Artaxerxes is a historical figure who first appeared in the 2018 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'', where he was voiced by the [[Cyprus|Cypriot]] actor [[Alkis Kritikos]]. Historically, Artaxerxes I reigned over Persia until his death in 424 BCE at {{Wiki|Susa}}, while in-game it is possible to interact with him up to and beyond his documented death date.
+==Gallery==
+<gallery widths="180" position="center" captionalign="center">
+ACOD Artaxerxes I of Persia.png|Close up view of Artaxerxes
+ACOd-Artaxerxesbeggar.jpg|Artaxerxes praying and begging outside the temple in Megara
+ACOd-Artaxerxesbegging.jpg
+</gallery>
+==Appearances==
+*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{1st}}
+**''[[Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted]]'' {{Mo}}
+**''[[Legacy of the First Blade: Bloodline]]'' {{Mo}}
+==References==
 {{Reflist}}
 {{ACOD}}
@@ Line 31: / Line 43: @@
 [[Category:Kings of Persia]]
 [[Category:Pharaohs of Egypt]]
-[[Category:Historically attested individuals]]
+[[Category:Achaemenid dynasty]]
+<!--[de:Artaxerxes I von Persien]
+[es:Artajerjes I de Persia]
+[fr:Artaxerxès Ier]
+[zh:阿尔塔薛西斯一世]-->