Xerxes I (King of Persia) 520-465 BC

Xerxes' name was derived from the Old Persian "Khshayarsha", pronounced: Khashayar Shah.

Xerxes I was the son of Darius the Great and Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great. Xerxes continued his father's campaign in Egypt then turned his attention to Greece. In 480, Xerxes traveled to Greece along with his vast army and navy. At Thermopylae, he defeated the Greeks and Spartans, but he could never really gain the upper hand over the Greek navy. However, Xerxes did invade and burn Athens, because it had been abandoned. His victory was short-lived as the Athenian navy defeated him at Salamis.

After Thermopylae and Salamis, Xerxes left for Asia and put Mardonius in charge of his fleet and army. At the Battle of Plataea Mardonius was killed, leaving the Persians leaderless and ineffective. His death was the main cause of the end of the Persian invasion of Greece.

Xerxes then lead a spoiled life in his capital cities, which led to a decline in military pursuits for the Persians, and eventually to the murder of Xerxes himself, supposedly organized by his son, Artaxerxes.

SOURCES:
Plato-Dialogues
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Iran Chamber

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