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| {{WP-REAL|Xerxes I of Persia}} | | {{WP-REAL|Xerxes I of Persia}} |
| | '''Xerxes''' (519 BC - 465 BC) was the King of Persia during the Persian War in which the Persians fought the Greeks and conquered much of Greece. |
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| '''Xerxes I of Persia''', also known as '''Xerxes the Great''', was the fourth [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrian Zoroastrian] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_empire#Achaemenid_kings_and_rulers king of kings of the Achamenid Empire].Apart from these desrciptions in the movie 300 xerxes was potrayed as a heavily bejeweled person with many peircings wich is not true in life he had very few if any peircings.
| | Xerxes was known to have been a [[Templar]]. This would eventually become his demise as he was assassinated by the Assassin [[Darius]], who for the first time in history used the [[Hidden Blade]], making Xerxes' death quite notable. |
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| ==Contents==
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| [hide]*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Life 1 Life]
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| **[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Youth_and_rise_to_power 1.1 Youth and rise to power]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Death 2 Death]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Campaigns 3 Campaigns]
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| **[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Invasion_of_the_Greek_mainland 3.1 Invasion of the Greek mainland]
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| **[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Thermopylae_and_Athens 3.2 Thermopylae and Athens]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Construction_projects 4 Construction projects]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#In_the_Bible 5 In the Bible]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#In_the_Book_of_Esther 6 In the Book of Esther]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#In_Classical_Music 7 In Classical Music]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Children 8 Children]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Depictions_in_popular_culture 9 Depictions in popular culture]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Notes 10 Notes]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#References 11 References]
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| **[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Ancient_sources 11.1 Ancient sources]
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| **[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#Modern_sources 11.2 Modern sources]
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| |}
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=1 edit]] Life==
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| ===[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=2 edit]] Youth and rise to power===
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| Immediately after seizing the kingship, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_I_of_Persia Darius I of Persia] (son of Hystaspes) married [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atossa Atossa] (daughter of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great Cyrus the Great]). They were both descendants of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenes Achaemenes] from different Achaemenid lines. Marrying a daughter of Cyrus strengthened Darius' position as king.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-atossa-EI_0-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-atossa-EI-0 [1]]</sup> Darius was an active emperor, busy with building programs in Persepolis, Susa, Egypt, and elsewhere. Toward the end of his reign he moved to punish Athens, but a new revolt in Egypt (probably led by the Persian satrap) had to be suppressed. Under Persian law, the Achaemenian kings were required to choose a successor before setting out on such serious expeditions. Upon his great decision to leave (487-486 BC)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-phae-xx_1-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-phae-xx-1 [2]]</sup>, Darius prepared his tomb at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqsh-e_Rostam Naqsh-e Rostam] and appointed Xerxes, his eldest son by Atossa, as his successor. Darius' failing health then prevented him from leading the campaigns,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-darius-EI_2-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-darius-EI-2 [3]]</sup> and he died in October 486 BC.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-darius-EI_2-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-darius-EI-2 [3]]</sup>
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| Xerxes was not the oldest son of Darius and according to old Iranian traditions should not have succeeded the King. Xerxes was however the oldest son of Darius and Atossa hence descendent of Cyrus. This made Xerxes the chosen King of Persia.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-3 [4]]</sup> Some modern scholars also view the unusual decision of Darius to give the throne to Xerxes to be a result of his consideration of the unique positions that Cyrus the Great and his daughter Atossa have had.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-4 [5]]</sup> Artobazan was born to "Darius the subject", while Xerxes was the eldest son [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_in_the_purple born in the purple] after Darius' rise to the throne, and Artobazan's mother was a commoner while Xerxes' mother was the daughter of the founder of the empire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-5 [6]]</sup>
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| Xerxes was crowned and succeeded his father in October-December 486 BC<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chi-v2_6-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-chi-v2-6 [7]]</sup> when he was about 36 years old.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-phae-xx_1-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-phae-xx-1 [2]]</sup> The transition of power to Xerxes was smooth due again in part to great authority of Atossa<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-atossa-EI_0-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-atossa-EI-0 [1]]</sup> and his accession of royal power was not challenged by any person at court or in the Achaemenian family, or any subject nation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-7 [8]]</sup>
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| Almost immediately, he suppressed the revolts in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt Egypt] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] that had broken out the year before, and appointed his brother [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenes_(satrap) Achaemenes] as governor or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satrap satrap] (Old Persian: khshathrapavan) over Egypt. In 484 BC, he outraged the Babylonians by violently confiscating and melting down<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-8 [9]]</sup> the golden statue of Bel ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk Marduk], Merodach), the hands of which the rightful king of Babylon had to clasp each New Year's Day. This sacrilege led the Babylonians to rebel in 484 BC and 482 BC, so that in contemporary Babylonian documents, Xerxes is refused his father's title of King of Babylon, being named rather as King of Persia and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes Media], Great King, King of Kings ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahanshah Shahanshah]) and King of Nations (i.e. of the world).
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| Although Herodotus' report in the ''Histories'' has created certain problems concerning Xerxes' religious beliefs, modern scholars consider him as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-9 [10]]
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| </sup>
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=3 edit]] Death==
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| In the year 465 Xerxes was murdered by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artabanus_of_Persia Artabanus] the commander of the royal bodyguard and the most powerful official in Persian court (Hazarapat/commander of thousand). He was promoted to this most prestigious of positions in Achamenid court after his refusal to help Mardonius in Plataea and instead withdrawing the second Persian army successfully out of Greece. Although he bore the same name as famed uncle of Xerxes, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrcanian Hyrcanian], his rise to prominence was due to his popularity in religious quarters of the court and harem intrigues. He put his seven sons in key positions and had an effective master plan to dethrone Achamenids.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-10 [11]]</sup> In August, 465 B.C he assassinated Xerxes with the help of a eunuch [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aspamitres&action=edit&redlink=1 Aspamitres]. Greek historians give contradicting accounts on the full story. According to Ctesias (in Persica 20), he then accused the crown prince Darius (Xerxes' eldest son) of the murder; he instigated Artaxerxes (another Xerxes' son), to avenge the patricide. But according to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] (in Politics 5.1311b), Artabanus killed Darius first and then the king himself. Later on after discovering what he had done and planned for the royal power, Artabanus together with his sons were killed by Artaxerxes I.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-11 [12]]</sup> Participating in the scuffles was also general Megabyzus (baghabukhsha) whose side switching probably saved the day for Achamenids.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-12 [13]]</sup>
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=4 edit]] Campaigns==
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| ===[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=5 edit]] Invasion of the Greek mainland===
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| Main article: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Persian_Wars Greco-Persian Wars]�
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| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xerxes_lash_sea.JPG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xerxes_lash_sea.JPG]Xerxes lashing the HellespontDarius left to his son the task of punishing the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens Athenians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxos_Island Naxians], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia Ethiopians] for their interference in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionian_Revolt Ionian Revolt] and their victory over the Persians at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon Marathon]. From 483 BC Xerxes prepared his expedition: A channel was dug through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isthmus isthmus] of the peninsula of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos Mount Athos], provisions were stored in the stations on the road through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrace Thrace], two bridges were built across the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellespont Hellespont]. Soldiers of many nationalities served in the armies of Xerxes, including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_people Assyrians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenicians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonians Babylonians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India Indians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptians Egyptians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs Arabs].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-13 [14]]</sup>
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| According to the Greek historian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus Herodotus], Xerxes' first attempt to bridge the Hellespont ended in failure when a storm destroyed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax flax] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus papyrus] bridge; Xerxes ordered the Hellespont (the strait itself) whipped three hundred times and had [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetters fetters] thrown into the water. Xerxes' second attempt to bridge the Hellespont was successful.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-14 [15]]</sup> Xerxes concluded an alliance with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage Carthage], and thus deprived Greece of the support of the powerful monarchs of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse,_Italy Syracuse] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrigentum Agrigentum]. Many smaller Greek states, moreover, took the side of the Persians, especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessaly Thessaly], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thebes,_Greece Thebes] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argos Argos]. Xerxes set out in the spring of 480 BC from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardis Sardis] with a fleet and army which Herodotus claimed was more than two million strong with at least 10,000 elite warriors named [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Immortals Persian Immortals]. Xerxes was victorious during the initial battles.
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| ===[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=6 edit]] Thermopylae and Athens===
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| �
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| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tresury_relief.JPG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tresury_relief.JPG]Relief of an Achaemenid king, possibly Xerxes or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_I_of_Persia Darius], on the wall of Persepolis Palace<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-15 [16]]</sup>At the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae Battle of Thermopylae], a small force of Greek warriors led by King [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_I Leonidas] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta Sparta] resisted the much larger Persian forces, but were ultimately defeated. According to Herodotus, the Persians broke the Spartan phalanx after a Greek man called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephialtes_of_Trachis Ephialtes] betrayed his country by telling the Persians of another pass around the mountains. After Thermopylae, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens Athens] was captured and the Athenians and Spartans were driven back to their last line of defense at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isthmus_of_Corinth Isthmus of Corinth] and in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saronic_Gulf Saronic Gulf]. The delay caused by the Spartans allowed Athens to be evacuated.
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| What happened next is a matter of some controversy<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2009">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>. According to Herodotus, upon encountering the deserted city, in an uncharacteristic fit of rage particularly for Persian kings, Xerxes had Athens burned. He almost immediately regretted this action and ordered it rebuilt the very next day<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from January 2010">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>. However, Persian scholars dispute this view as pan-Hellenic propaganda<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2009">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>, arguing that Sparta, not Athens, was Xerxes' main foe in his Greek campaigns, and that Xerxes would have had nothing to gain by destroying a major center of trade and commerce like Athens once he had already captured it.
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| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xerxes_Cuneiform_Van.JPG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xerxes_Cuneiform_Van.JPG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inscription Inscription] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_the_Great Xerxes the Great] near the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Fortress Van Citadel]At that time, anti-Persian sentiment was high among many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelopennesus mainland Greeks], and the rumor that Xerxes had destroyed the city was a popular one, though it is equally likely the fire was started by accident as the Athenians were frantically fleeing the scene in pandemonium<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2009">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>, or that it was an act of "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorched_earth scorched earth]" warfare to deprive Xerxes' army of the spoils of the city. Unfortunately, regardless of the circumstances the damage was done and Xerxes considered the capture of Athens as the only major mistake in his military career.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from January 2010">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>
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| At Artemisium, large storms had destroyed ships from the Greek side and so the battle stopped prematurely as the Greeks received news of the defeat at Thermopylae and retreated. Xerxes was induced by the message of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themistocles Themistocles] (against the advice of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_I_of_Caria Artemisia] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halicarnassus Halicarnassus]) to attack the Greek fleet under unfavourable conditions, rather than sending a part of his ships to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesus Peloponnesus] and awaiting the dissolution of the Greek armies. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Salamis Battle of Salamis] (September 29, 480 BC) was won by the Greek fleet. Although the loss was a setback, it was not a disaster as some Greek historians have claimed, and Xerxes set up a winter camp in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessaly Thessaly].
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| Due to unrest in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon], Xerxes was forced to send his army home to prevent a revolt, leaving behind an army in Greece under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardonius Mardonius], who was defeated the following year at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plataea Plataea].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-16 [17]]</sup> The Greeks also attacked and burned the remaining Persian fleet anchored at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mycale Mycale]. This cut off the Persians from the supplies they needed to sustain their massive army, and they had no choice but to retreat. Their withdrawal roused the Greek city-states of Asia.
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=7 edit]] Construction projects==
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| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_of_Xerxes.JPG][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_of_Xerxes.JPG]The rock-cut tomb at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqsh-e_Rustam Naqsh-e Rustam] north of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis Persepolis], copying that of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_the_Great_of_Persia Darius], is usually assumed to be that of XerxesAfter the military blunders in Greece, Xerxes returned to Persia and completed the many construction projects left unfinished by his father at Susa and Persepolis. He built the Gate of all Nations and the Hall of a Hundred Columns at Persepolis, which are the largest and most imposing structures of the palace. He completed the Apadana, the Palace of Darius and the Treasury all started by Darius as well as building his own palace which was twice the size of his father's. His taste in architecture was similar to that of Darius, though on an even more gigantic scale<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-17 [18]]</sup>. He also maintained the Royal Road built by his father and completed the Susa Gate and built a palace at Susa.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-18 [19]]</sup>
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=8 edit]] In the Bible==
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| Main article: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahasuerus Ahasuerus]The name Xerxes has not traditionally appeared in English bibles,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-19 [20]]</sup> but has rather appeared as 'Ahasuerus', while in many other more modern translations and paraphrases<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-20 [21]]</sup> they have directly listed Xerxes. Xerxes appears three times in the Bible: firstly as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther Esther]'s husband,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-21 [22]]</sup> followed by a perfect example in the Book of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra Ezra]<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-22 [23]]</sup>, listing him as king of Persia in proper order after [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great Cyrus the Great] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_the_Great Darius the Great] (skipping [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambyses Cambyses] and the short rule of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smerdis_of_Persia Magi] as being unrelated to the events of the book); the third reference comes from the prophecy of Daniel 11:2<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-23 [24]]</sup>, foretelling his invasion of Greece. The reference to "Darius the son of Ahasuerus" in [http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=Daniel%20&verse=9:1&src=HE Daniel� 9:1]is unrelated.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-24 [25]]</sup>
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=9 edit]] In the Book of Esther==
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| For these same reasons and due to the historical context of the text, it is also commonly understood and translated that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther Esther]'s husband Ahasuerus is Xerxes the Great.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-25 [26]]</sup> But the Greek [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagint Septuagint] version of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Bible Hebrew Bible] identifies [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther Esther]'s husband as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I Artaxerxes I] (Longimanus), rather than Xerxes himself,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-26 [27]]</sup> as does the Judeo-Roman historian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus Josephus].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-27 [28]]</sup> Yet it is now thought that the translators of this portion of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagint#Creation_of_the_Septuagint Septuagint] simply mistook Xerxes the Great for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I Artaxerxes I] (Longimanus).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-28 [29]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-29 [30]]</sup>
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=10 edit]] In Classical Music==
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| Xerxes is the protagonist of the opera ''"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serse Serse]"'' by the German-English [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque Baroque] composer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel George Frideric Handel]. It was first performed in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Theatre King's Theatre] in London on 15 April 1738.
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=11 edit]] Children==
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| '''By queen [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amestris Amestris]'''
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amytis_(daughter_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Amytis], wife of [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megabyzus_(son_of_Zopyres)&action=edit&redlink=1 Megabyzus]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I Artaxerxes I]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darius_(son_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Darius], the first born, murdered by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I Artaxerxes I] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artabanus_of_Persia Artabanus].
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hystaspes_(son_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Hystaspes], murdered by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I Artaxerxes I].
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achaemenes_(son_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Achaemenes], murdered by Egyptians.
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhodogune_(daughter_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Rhodogune]
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| '''By unknown wives'''
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Artarius&action=edit&redlink=1 Artarius], satrap of Babylon.
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tithraustes_(son_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Tithraustes]
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arsames_(son_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Arsames] or Arsamenes or Arxanes or Sarsamas satrap of Egypt.
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| *[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parysatis_(daughter_of_Xerxes_I)&action=edit&redlink=1 Parysatis]<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-30 [31]]</sup>
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| *Ratashah<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia#cite_note-31 [32]]</sup>
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| ==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xerxes_I_of_Persia&action=edit§ion=12 edit]] Depictions in popular culture==
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| Later generations' fascination with ancient Sparta, and particularly the Battle of Thermopylae, has led to Xerxes' portrayal in a number of works of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture popular culture]. For instance, he was played by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Farrar David Farrar] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_in_film 1962 film] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_300_Spartans The 300 Spartans]'', where he is portrayed as a cruel, power-crazed despot and an inept commander. He also features prominently in the graphic novel ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_(comics) 300]'' by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Miller_(comics) Frank Miller], as well as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_(film) movie adaptation] (portrayed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil Brazilian] actor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_Santoro Rodrigo Santoro]) and the parody film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_the_Spartans Meet the Spartans]'' (portrayed by American actor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Davitian Ken Davitian]).
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| Other works dealing with the Persian Empire or the Biblical story of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther Esther] have also referenced Xerxes, such as the video game ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_Creed_II Assassin's Creed II]'' and the film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Night_with_the_King One Night with the King]'', in which Ahasueras (Xerxes) was portrayed by British actor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Goss Luke Goss]. He is the leader of the Persian Empire in the video game ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_II Civilization II]'' (along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade Scheherazade]) and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_III III]'', although ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_IV Civilization IV]'' replaces him with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great Cyrus the Great].
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| �
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| {| class="wikitable succession-box" style="margin: 0.5em auto; clear: both; font-size: 95%"
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| | colspan="3" style="text-align: center; background: #ffd700"|Xerxes I of Persia'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire Achaemenid dynasty]''''''Born:''' 519 BC '''Died:''' 465 BC
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| |- style="text-align: center"
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| | align="middle" rowspan="2" width="30%"|Preceded� by
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| '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_I_of_Persia Darius I the Great]'''
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| | style="text-align: center" width="40%"|'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_kings_of_Persia Great King (Shah) of Persia]'''
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| 485 BC–465 BC
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| | align="middle" rowspan="2" width="30%"|Succeeded� by
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| '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I_of_Persia Artaxerxes I]'''
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| |-
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| | style="text-align: center" width="40%"|'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaoh Pharaoh of Egypt]'''
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| 485 BC–465 BC
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| |}
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| [[Category:Templars]] | | [[Category:Templars]] |
| [[Category:Historical Characters]] | | [[Category:Historical Characters]] |
