Artaxerxes (II)

Ezra vii, viii.II. ARTAXERXES, sirnamed Longimanus, reigned from the year of the World 3531, to 3579. before J. C. 421. before the vulgar Æra 425. He permitted Ezra to return into Judæa, with all those who were inclined to follow him, in the year of the World 3537. Afterwards Nehemiah also obtained leave to return, and rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, in the year 3550, which was the twentieth of his reign. From this year the best Chronologers reckon the beginning of Daniel’s seventy weeks. These weeks are weeks of years, which make four hundred and ninety years; that is to say, after four hundred and ninety years, or seventy weeks of seven years, the Messiah will be put to death, in the middle of the seventieth week. This seventieth week begins at Jesus Christ’s baptism, in the year of the World 4033. His death is the middle of it. It fell out in the year of the World 4036, and an half. It ended in 4040, which is the four hundred and ninetieth after the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus¹.

The Eastern people believe, that this sirname was given him by reason of the extent of his Dominions². It is commonly said that Princes have long hands; but the Greeks³ maintain, that this Prince had really longer hands than usual, and that when he stood upright he could touch his knees. He is said to have been the handsomest man of his time. The Eastern people call him Bahaman, and sirname him Ardschir-dirazdest; that is to say, with long hands. He was the Son of Asfendiar, sixth King of the second Dynasty of the Persians. After having extinguished the family of Rostam, which was formidable to him on the score of those great men whereof it was composed, he carried his Arms into the Western Provinces; that is to say, into Mesopotamia and Syria, which were part of his Empire. He took the government of Babylon from Belshazzar, Son of Nebuchadnezzar, by reason of the ravages committed by his Father in Syria and Palestine, and put Kiresch, known among us by the name of Cyrus, in his place.

Some Persian Historians assert, that the Mother of Bahaman, or Artaxerxes, was a Jewess, of the Tribe of Benjamin and Saul’s family; and that the most beloved of his Wives was of the Tribe of Judah, and race of Solomon by Rehoboam King of Judah; wherefore it is no wonder that he should recommend it to Cyrus, who was himself born of a Jewish Mother, to favour the people of this Nation in every thing he could; which Cyrus failed not to perform, by sending them back into their own Country, and permitting them to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem. This is what these Historians relate, the truth whereof we shall not undertake to warrant.

Some have believed this to be the Prince who divorced Vashti, and married Esther. We shall examine this opinion hereafter in the Article DARIUS, the Son of Hystaspes.

Since we have given a summary of Artaxerxes’s life, after the Persian Historians, we shall do the same from the accounts of him given by the Greeks. Xerxes King of Persia, who is so well known in all our Histories, was killed by Artabanus Captain of his guards, who having formed the design of placing himself upon the Throne, resolved to murder the three Sons of Xerxes. The first of them was Darius, who in course was to succeed him; the second Hystaspes, and the third Artaxerxes Longimanus.

Artabanus therefore made Artaxerxes believe, that the King his Father had been put to death by his eldest Brother Darius, and that this young Prince, after he had killed his Father, designed to murder him also, so that it concerned him to be upon his guard, and provide for his own security. Artaxerxes, not distrusting the sincerity of Artabanus, concluded, that to revenge the death of his Father, and prevent his own, it was necessary to dispatch his Brother Darius, and without deliberating longer on the matter, he went into his apartment, with Artabanus in his company, and killed him. Hystaspes, the second Son of Xerxes, to whom the Crown of right belonged, was in Bactria, and consequently at a great distance. Artabanus, without troubling himself at all about this, took Artaxerxes and placed him on the Throne, flattering himself with the hopes of ascending it himself very soon, and forcing Artaxerxes out of it. But this Prince having discovered the Conspiracy, prevented it, and put Artabanus to death⁴.

But notwithstanding this, he was not altogether settled on the Throne; the friends and relations of Artabanus form’d a powerful Party against him, levied Troops, and gave him battle, which they lost. He afterwards marched against his Brother Hystaspes Governor of Bactria. He made war against him for two years successively, and in the second defeated him in a bloody engagement. By this victory he became peaceable possessor of the Empire, put new Governours in most of the Provinces, and used great application in reforming the disorders and abuses of the preceding Government, whereby he gained the esteem and friendship of his people.

About three years after, the Egyptians grown weary of the Persian Yoke, rebell’d against Artaxerxes⁵, and chose Inarus Prince of the Lybians for their King. They invited the Athenians to assist them, who at that time had a Fleet of an hundred Sail in the Island Cyprus. Upon the news of this revolt Artaxerxes levied an Army of three hundred thousand men with a resolution to march against Egypt; but his friends having advised him not to hazard his Person, he trusted the care of this expedition to Achemenides one of his Brothers, or, as others will have it, his Uncle⁶. Upon his arrival in Egypt he was defeated by the Egyptians, supported by the Athenians, who were come to their assistance. There were an hundred thousand Persians computed to be killed in this battle, and they who escaped retired to Memphis: thither the conquerors pursued them, and immediately made themselves Masters of two parts of the City. But the Persians fortifying themselves in the third, called the white Wall, maintained a siege there of three years, with great bravery; after which time Artaxerxes sent two of his Generals, Megabysus and Artabazus to their assistance, who delivered them, defeated Inarus’s Army, and subjected Egypt once more to the dominion of the Persians.

In the mean time the Athenians, who had kept up the rebellion of the Egyptians, acted offensively against the Persians, and did them very considerable damage on many occasions, which obliged Artaxerxes at last to make peace with them upon these conditions⁷: 1. That all the Greek Cities of Asia should have liberty, and the choice of the several Laws and Government under which they were inclined to live. 2. That no Persian Vessel of war should enter the seas from the Euxine, as far as the coasts of Pamphylia. 3. That no Persian Commander should come nearer with his Troops than within three days march of these seas. 4. That the Athenians should no more attack any of the lands belonging to the King’s dominions.

Artaxerxes, after having for five years resisted the prayers and importunities of his Mother, who desired Inarus of him, and those Athenians that had been taken with him in Egypt, that she might sacrifice them to the Manes of her Son Achemenides, at last gave them up to her. This inhumanity so exasperated Megabysus, who after the victory obtained over them had given them his word not to sacrifice them, that he left the Court, and retired to Syria, whereof he was Governour, and there levied an Army, in order to take his revenge. The King sent Osiris against him, with an Army of two hundred thousand men: but Osiris was beaten, wounded, and taken by Megabysus. The next year he sent another Army against him, under the command of Menossanes, one of his Generals. But he too was overcome, and put to flight, by Megabysus. At length Artaxerxes pardoned Megabysus; after which he returned to Court. Artaxerxes reigned one and forty years, and died in the year of the world 3572. before J. C. 428.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages