SMERDIS King of Persia, the same who is call’d Artaxerxes, or Artachsarta, in the Book of Ezra, chap. iv. 7. This is is his History: Cyrus the Great left two Sons, Cambyses,Xenoph. Cyropæd. and Tanaoxares, otherwise call’d Smerdis, or Mergis, according to Justin. Cambyses took his Brother along with him in his Expedition against Egypt. But when it was found that Smerdis was the only one of his Army who could draw the Bow that the Ethiopians had sent him, Cambyses conceived such a Jealousy against him, that he would not suffer him to stay in his Army, but sent him back into Persia. But, some time after this, having had a Dream, that Smerdis had taken Possession of the Crown of Persia, he sent one of his Confidents, named Prexaspes, with Orders to put him to Death; which was perform’d accordingly.
After a Stay of about three Years in Egypt, Cambyses set out to return into Persia.Vid. Herodot. l. 3. When he was come as far as Syria, he there found a Courier dispatched from Persia, with an Account, that Smerdis the Son of Cyrus had ascended the Throne. And indeed, one of the chief of the Magi, or Magians, call’d Pathisites, to whom Cambyses had left the Government of his Kingdom in his Absence, had placed his own Brother call’d Smerdis upon the Throne of Persia. He had a great Resemblance to Smerdis the Prince of that Name, who had been kill’d by Prexaspes, and whose Death was not known to every Body. Cambyses caus’d this Messenger to be stopp’d; and making an exact Enquiry concerning what had been done to his Brother Smerdis, he found that he had been really put to Death, and that it was another Smerdis who had usurp’d the Crown.
Herodot. l. 3.Upon this, he gave Orders for the marching of his Troops with all Expedition, to punish this Usurper: But as he was mounting his Horse with too great Precipitation, his Sword happen’d to fall out of the Scabbard, which gave him a Wound in his Thigh, of which he died soon after: But before his Death, he sent for all the Grandees of Persia, acquainted them with the Death of his Brother Smerdis, and with the Usurpation of the Magian, conjuring them all not to submit to the surreptitious Authority of this Impostor. Herodotus calls him Smerdis; Œschilus, Mardus; Ctesias, Spendates; and Justin, Oropastes.
Ezra iv. 7.No sooner was he confirm’d in his Government by the Death of Cambyses, but the Samaritans, who always were at Enmity with the Jews, wrote a Letter to him against them, telling him, that the Jews, who were always a factious and turbulent Nation, were now rebuilding the City and Temple of Jerusalem; and that when they had compleated this Undertaking, it was much to be apprehended, that they intended to revolt and shake off the Persian Yoke; which Example might encourage the neighbouring Nations of Syria and Palestine to do the same: That he had need only of consulting the Records of Persia, to be convinced of this Truth, and of the dangerous Temper of the Jews. This Letter having been received at Court, the Archives of the Kingdom were inspected, where indeed it was easy to observe, that the Hebrews had for a long Time maintain’d a War against the Kings of Assyria and Babylon, and that at last they had been subdued by the Arms of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Upon this, an Order was dispatch’d to the Jews, that they shou’d not go on with their Works, nor proceed in Repairing Jerusalem, or the Temple1; and Commission was given to the Samaritans, to see that this Order was comply’d with. This they had no sooner receiv’d, but they came in all Haste to Jerusalem, where notifying to the Jews the Resolution of the Court of Persia, they obliged them, by Force and Authority, to suspend the Execution of their Designs. Thus a Stop was put to this Work ‘till the second Year of Darius Son of Hystaspes,2 who gave Leave to the Jews to go on with their Work for the Repairing Ezra vi. 1, &c.of the Temple: But the Prohibition of Repairing or Rebuilding their Walls was not taken off ‘till the Year 3550, by Artaxerxes Longimanus.
But to return to Smerdis: He omitted nothing to secure himself in the Possession of the Throne of Persia. He marry’d Atossa Daughter of Cyrus, and granted his Subjects an Exemption from Taxes, and all military Services, for three Years: And as he had great Reason to be afraid of every thing, if it should be once known that he was not the real Smerdis, he took great Care to avoid appearing in Publick; which was no unusual thing in Persia, where their Kings, to preserve the Respect due to Majesty, shew’d themselves but very seldom in Publick. Yet this exceeding Caution of his made him the more suspected. Ozanes, one of the noblest of the Persians, and whose Daughter Phedyma was of the Number of the King’s Wives, privately enquired of his Daughter, If the King was the true Smerdis or no? She gave him to understand, that having never seen Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, she could be no Judge of this Matter. He gave her Orders to enquire into the Truth of this, by the means of Atossa the Daughter of Cyrus, and Sister to Smerdis. But Phedyma let her Father know, that the Wives of the King had no Correspondence with one another, nor were allow’d to see one another. At last, Ozanes gave his Daughter Orders to observe, whether or no the King had his Ears; for Cyrus had cau’d the Ears of the counterfeit Smerdis to be cut off, having been convicted of some Crime. Phedyma very artificially discharged this Commission, and while the King was sleeping very soundly by her, she satisfy’d herself, that his Ears were not to be found, of which she gave Intelligence to her Father.
Ozanes open’d the Matter to six of the chief of the Nobility, who forming a Party against him, enter’d the Palace, fell upon the Usurper, and upon his Brother Pasisthes the Contriver of this Intrigue: They kill’d them both,3 and exposing their Heads to the People, the whole Imposture was fully discover’d. Darius the Son of Histaspes succeeded Smerdis, in the manner as is related under his Article.
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