User:Lacrossedeamon/Artaxerxes

Artaxerxes I of Persia 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 by Darius.

Throughout his lifetime, Artaxerxes fathered numerous children, including the future king Darius II.

Biography

Early life

Artaxerxes' father and grandfather were close allies of the Order of the Ancients, a powerful organization who aided in their conquests and expansions. After Xerxes I was assassinated 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. The attempt was halted, however, 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.

After years of peaceful and prosperous rule, the Order of the Ancients sought to gain more influence from Artaxerxes. However and in contrast to his predecessors, he rebuffed them. This lead to the Order planning to assassinate Artaxerxes while framing Darius. Despite this Artaxerxes survived and the Order relented realizing one obstinate king is not a great setback given the timescale and scope of the Order.

The Blind King

At some point, Kassandra, a Spartan misthios and granddaughter of King Leonidas, met a blind man in Megara. The man requested that Kassandra visit various landmarks around Greece where she found notes written by the former Athenian general Themistokles. In return for Kassandra describing these landmarks that he would never be able to see, the blind man told her his own life story. He claimed to be Artaxerxes, King of Persia, and an informal pupil of Themistokles whom he had met and befriended when the general had fled to Persia after his ostracism. The man further claimed to have also fled Persia after being targeted by a man named Darius hired by his brother. While recounting his tale another assassin appeared attempting to kill him.

Legacy

Later, after defeating Amorges and the Order of Dominion in Messenia, Kassandra met with Artaxerxes's son, the prince and future Darius II of Persia, who had been tasked with watching over her child, Elpidios. Being away from Persia so long, Darius commented on how he missed his father, characterizing him as both a good king and great parent.

Behind the scenes

Historically, Artaxerxes I reigned over Persia until his death in 424 BCE at Susa and in fact ordered the assassination of his own brother instead of being targeted by him. Dialogue spoken by Darius II of Persia, Artaxerxes's son, in the memory Legacy of the First Blade casts doubt on the blind man's claims as the dialogue implies that Artaxerxes is still ruling in Persia up until his historical death date. The blind man is voice acted by Alkis Kritikos.