Xerxes: The Egyptian War

(taken from History of Xerxes the Great)

*after Darius death the debate ensued again as to who was the rightful king; Xerxes took the throne, as his brother was absent, and sent him a message along with presents telling him of his intentions and offering him a position as second rank (page 33)

*Artobazanes accepted the presents, but said that he felt the position of king was rightfully his
*In the end, there was a public hearing of the matter by their uncle Artabanus; Xerxes was hesitant to have the hearing, but his mother Atossa encouraged him to so and Artabanus ruled in his favor at the hearing and Artobazanes accepted his position of second in rank (34-35)

*upon securing his position, Xerxes began to ponder which war he should undertake from his father: the war in Egypt or the war in Greece

*(53) "Darius held the country (Egypt) as a dependency during his reign, though, near the close of his life, it revolted." It revolted as he had been preparing to go to war with Greece, making him unsure of which to pursue. He died before he could decide.

*(54)Xerxes decided to first squelch the rebellion in Egypt first "He deemed it dangerous to leave a province of his father's empire in a state of successful rebellion, while leading his armies off to new undertakings." However, his commander-in-chief of the army, Mardonius, was very reluctant and was ancy to pursue the conquest of Greece in which would offer more glory for himself.

*On the way to Egypt, they passed by the land of Judea where the captives had returned from Babylon and were rebuilding, and Xerxes 'confirmed them in the privileges which Cyrus and Darius had granted them, and aided them in their work.' (54)

*the Egyptian rebellion was put down with little effort in less than a year. (all this took place in the second year of his reign) Also, he made his brother viceroy (governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign etc. ) of Egypt.