Xerxes, who had retired to his harem after the debacle in the west and devoted his energies to building palaces at Persepolis, is assassinated in 465 by Artabanus, his chief minister; his younger son succeeds him as Artaxerxes I (his elder brother, Darius, having been also murdered).

Artaxerxes, called by the Greeks Macrocheir (Longhand) spends most of his time at Susa.

Court intrigues at the beginning of Artaxerxes’ reign are followed by revolts in the provinces of Bactria and Egypt, which the Persians suppress after considerable fighting.

Court intrigues at the beginning of Artaxerxes’ reign are followed by revolts in the provinces of Bactria and Egypt, which the Persians suppress after considerable fighting.