Xerxes I of Persia: Difference between revisions
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|image = ACOD Xerxes I of Persia.png | |image = ACOD Xerxes I of Persia.png | ||
|birth = 519 BCE<br>[[Iran|Persia]], [[Achaemenid Empire]] | |birth = 519 BCE<br>[[Iran|Persia]], [[Achaemenid Empire]] | ||
|death = August 465 BCE {{c|aged | |death = August 465 BCE {{c|aged 53–54}}<br>Persia, Achaemenid Empire | ||
|species = [[Human]] | |species = [[Human]] | ||
|affiliates = Achaemenid dynasty<br>[[Order of the Ancients]] | |affiliates = Achaemenid dynasty<br>[[Order of the Ancients]] | ||
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In 480 BCE, Xerxes led a second Persian invasion of Greece. Before crossing the river [[Strymon]], Xerxes had white [[horse]]s sacrificed, as well as nine young men and women buried alive. After that, his army marched to [[Battle of Thermopylae|clash]] with Leonidas' forces at the [[Hot Gates of Thermopylai]] in [[Malis]].<ref name="ACOd"/> | In 480 BCE, Xerxes led a second Persian invasion of Greece. Before crossing the river [[Strymon]], Xerxes had white [[horse]]s sacrificed, as well as nine young men and women buried alive. After that, his army marched to [[Battle of Thermopylae|clash]] with Leonidas' forces at the [[Hot Gates of Thermopylai]] in [[Malis]].<ref name="ACOd"/> | ||
To oppose Xerxes' tyranny, the Persian elite consisting of [[Darius]], [[Amorges]], and [[Pactyas]] formed and led the [[Protectors of Persia]], a secret group that resisted the king.<ref name="PoP">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted]]'' – [[Protector of Persia]]</ref> In August 465 BCE, while the freedom fighters attacked Xerxes' convoy, Darius used the distraction and his disguise as one of the king's agents to sneak in from behind and assassinate Xerxes.<ref name="Shadow">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted]]'' – [[Shadow of a Legend]]</ref> This act marked the first recorded use of the [[Hidden Blade]].<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref><ref name="The Essential Guide">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]]''</ref> | To oppose Xerxes' tyranny, the Persian elite consisting of [[Darius]], [[Amorges]], and [[Pactyas]] formed and led the [[Protectors of Persia]], a secret group that resisted the king.<ref name="PoP">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted]]'' – [[Protector of Persia]]</ref> In August 465 BCE, while the freedom fighters attacked Xerxes' convoy, Darius used the distraction and his disguise as one of the king's agents to sneak in from behind and assassinate Xerxes.<ref name="Shadow">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted]]'' – [[Shadow of a Legend]]</ref> This act marked the first recorded use of the [[Hidden Blade]].<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Floating conversations]]: Unlocking Monteriggioni's Secrets</ref><ref name="The Essential Guide">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]]''</ref> | ||
He was succeeded by his son [[Artaxerxes I of Persia|Artaxerxes I]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | He was succeeded by his son [[Artaxerxes I of Persia|Artaxerxes I]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
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By the 420s BCE, Xerxes' story was part of a play written by [[Thespis]], based on the Battle of Thermopylae. The part of Xerxes was set to be played by an [[Xerxes actor|actor]] famous for his previous villainous roles.<ref name="Curse of Fame">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[The Curse of Fame]]</ref> | By the 420s BCE, Xerxes' story was part of a play written by [[Thespis]], based on the Battle of Thermopylae. The part of Xerxes was set to be played by an [[Xerxes actor|actor]] famous for his previous villainous roles.<ref name="Curse of Fame">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[The Curse of Fame]]</ref> | ||
By the 1st century BCE, Darius' killing of Xerxes had earned him a legendary reputation, and the Hidden Blade used during the assassination came to be seen as a "weapon of justice" according to [[Amunet|Aya]].<ref name="Aya">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Aya (memory)|Aya]]</ref> By the time of the [[Renaissance]], Darius was a revered figure among the [[Assassins]], the organization co-founded by Aya and her husband [[Bayek]], for his fight against tyranny, best exemplified by his assassination of Xerxes.<ref name="AC2" | By the 1st century BCE, Darius' killing of Xerxes had earned him a legendary reputation, and the Hidden Blade used during the assassination came to be seen as a "weapon of justice" according to [[Amunet|Aya]].<ref name="Aya">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Aya (memory)|Aya]]</ref> By the time of the [[Renaissance]], Darius was a revered figure among the [[Assassins]], the organization co-founded by Aya and her husband [[Bayek]], for his fight against tyranny, best exemplified by his assassination of Xerxes.<ref name="AC2" /> | ||
==Personality and traits== | ==Personality and traits== | ||
Revision as of 22:46, 17 June 2026
Xerxes I of Persia (c. 519 BCE – 465 BCE), also known as Xerxes the Great, was a king of the Achaemenid Empire during the Greco-Persian Wars, and an ally of the Order of the Ancients in Persia.
Biography
Like his father, Darius I, Xerxes I was a strong ally[1][2] of the Order of the Ancients.[3] Additionally, the Cult of Kosmos supported Xerxes in his attempted conquest of Greece, unsuccessfully trying to sway King Leonidas of Sparta to allow Xerxes to conquer the land through their puppet, the Oracle of Delphi.[4]
In 480 BCE, Xerxes led a second Persian invasion of Greece. Before crossing the river Strymon, Xerxes had white horses sacrificed, as well as nine young men and women buried alive. After that, his army marched to clash with Leonidas' forces at the Hot Gates of Thermopylai in Malis.[3]
To oppose Xerxes' tyranny, the Persian elite consisting of Darius, Amorges, and Pactyas formed and led the Protectors of Persia, a secret group that resisted the king.[5] In August 465 BCE, while the freedom fighters attacked Xerxes' convoy, Darius used the distraction and his disguise as one of the king's agents to sneak in from behind and assassinate Xerxes.[6] This act marked the first recorded use of the Hidden Blade.[7][8]
He was succeeded by his son Artaxerxes I.[3]
Influence and legacy
By the time of the Peloponnesian War, a fort within Lokris was named after Xerxes.[3]
The place where Xerxes had performed his sacrifice of horses, women, and men near the river Strymon was afterwards known as Xerxes' Sacrifice of the Nine. The Followers of Ares had made their camp therein, and were subsequently slain by the misthios Kassandra.[3]
By the 420s BCE, Xerxes' story was part of a play written by Thespis, based on the Battle of Thermopylae. The part of Xerxes was set to be played by an actor famous for his previous villainous roles.[9]
By the 1st century BCE, Darius' killing of Xerxes had earned him a legendary reputation, and the Hidden Blade used during the assassination came to be seen as a "weapon of justice" according to Aya.[10] By the time of the Renaissance, Darius was a revered figure among the Assassins, the organization co-founded by Aya and her husband Bayek, for his fight against tyranny, best exemplified by his assassination of Xerxes.[7]
Personality and traits
Xerxes was known to be a cruel, ruthless, sadistic, ambitious and dictatorial man obsessed with conquering Greece to avenge his own father. He did not tolerate the resistance of his enemies against his massive Persian army, considering it as useless.[6]
Gallery
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Potrait of Xerxes I
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Xerxes assassinated by Darius
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Xerxes' body
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed II (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (mentioned only)
- Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted (first appearance)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (mentioned only)
References
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Abstergo Files
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Bully the Bullies
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted – Protector of Persia
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted – Shadow of a Legend
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed II – Floating conversations: Unlocking Monteriggioni's Secrets
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Curse of Fame
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Aya
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