Artatus, a river of Illyria. Livy, bk. 43, ch. 19.
Artavasdes, a son of Tigranes king of Upper Armenia, who wrote tragedies, and shone as an elegant orator and faithful historian. He lived in alliance with the Romans, but Crassus was defeated, partly on account of his delay. He betrayed Marcus Antony in his expedition against Parthia, for which Antony reduced his kingdom, and carried him to Egypt, where he adorned the triumph of the conqueror led in golden chains. He was some time after murdered. Strabo, bk. 11.——The crown of Armenia was given by Tiberius to a person of the same name, who was expelled.——Augustus had also raised to the throne of Armenia a person of the same name. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 2.
Artaxa and Artaxias, a general of Antiochus the Great, who erected the province of Armenia into a kingdom, by his reliance on the friendship of the Romans. King Tigranes was one of his successors. Strabo, bk. 11.
Artaxăta (orum), now Ardesh, a strongly fortified town of Upper Armenia, the capital of the empire, where the kings generally resided. It is said that Annibal built it for Artaxias the king of the country. It was burnt by Corbulo, and rebuilt by Tiridates, who called it Neronea, in honour of Nero. Strabo, bk. 11.
Artaxerxes I., succeeded to the kingdom of Persia, after his father Xerxes. He destroyed Artabanus, who had murdered Xerxes, and attempted to cut off the whole royal family to raise himself to the throne. He made war against the Bactrians, and reconquered Egypt that had revolted, with the assistance of the Athenians, and was remarkable for his equity and moderation. One of his hands was longer than the other, whence he has been called Macrochir or Longimanus. He reigned 39 years, and died B.C. 425. Cornelius Nepos, Kings.—Plutarch, Artaxerxes.——The second of that name, king of Persia, was surnamed Mnemon, on account of his extensive memory. He was son of Darius II. by Parysatis the daughter of Artaxerxes Longimanus, and had three brothers, Cyrus, Ostanes, and Oxathres. His name was Arsaces, which he changed into Artaxerxes when he ascended the throne. His brother Cyrus was of such an ambitious disposition, that he resolved to make himself king, in opposition to Artaxerxes. Parysatis always favoured Cyrus; and when he had attempted the life of Artaxerxes, she obtained his pardon by her entreaties and influence. Cyrus, who had been appointed over Lydia and the sea coasts, assembled a large army under various pretences, and at last marched against his brother at the head of 100,000 barbarians and 13,000 Greeks. He was opposed by Artaxerxes with 900,000 men, and a bloody battle was fought at Cunaxa, in which Cyrus was killed, and his forces routed. It has been reported that Cyrus was killed by Artaxerxes, who was so desirous of the honour, that he put to death two men for saying that they had killed him. The Greeks, who had assisted Cyrus against his brother, though at the distance of above 600 leagues from their country, made their way through the territories of the enemy; and nothing is more famous in the Grecian history, than the retreat of the 10,000. After he was delivered from the attacks of his brother, Artaxerxes stirred up a war among the Grecian states against Sparta, and exerted all his influence to weaken the power of the Greeks. He married two of his own daughters, called Atossa and Amestria, and named his eldest son Darius to be his successor. Darius, however, conspired against his father, and was put to death; and Ochus, one of the younger sons, called also Artaxerxes, made his way to the throne, by causing his elder brothers Ariaspes and Arsames to be assassinated. It is said that Artaxerxes died of a broken heart, in consequence of his son’s unnatural behaviour, in the 94th year of his age, after a reign of 46 years, B.C. 358. Artaxerxes had 150 children by his 350 concubines, and only four legitimate sons. Plutarch, Parallel Lives.—Cornelius Nepos, Kings.—Justin, bk. 10, ch. 1, &c.—Diodorus, bk. 13, &c.——The third, surnamed Ochus, succeeded his father Artaxerxes II., and established himself on his throne by murdering above 80 of his nearest relations. He punished with death one of his officers who conspired against him, and recovered Egypt, which had revolted, destroyed Sidon, and ravaged all Syria. He made war against the Cadusii, and greatly rewarded a private man called Codomanus for his uncommon valour. But his behaviour in Egypt, and his cruelty towards the inhabitants, offended his subjects, and Bagoas at last obliged his physician to poison him, B.C. 337, and afterwards gave his flesh to be devoured by cats, and made handles for swords with his bones. Codomanus, on account of his virtues, was soon after made king by the people; and that he might seem to possess as much dignity as the house of Artaxerxes, he reigned under the name of Darius III. Justin, bk. 10, ch. 3.—Diodorus, bk. 17.—Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 6, ch. 8.
Artaxerxes, or Artaxares I., a common soldier of Persia, who killed Artabanus, A.D. 228, and erected Persia again into a kingdom, which had been extinct since the death of Darius. Severus the Roman emperor conquered him, and obliged him to remain within his kingdom. Herodian, bk. 5.——One of his successors, son of Sapor, bore his name, and reigned 11 years, during which he distinguished himself by his cruelties.
Artaxias, son of Artavasdes king of Armenia, was proclaimed king by his father’s troops. He opposed Antony, by whom he was defeated, and became so odious that the Romans, at the request of the Armenians, raised Tigranes to the throne.——Another, son of Polemon, whose original name was Zeno. After the expulsion of Vonones from Armenia, he was made king by Germanicus. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 6, ch. 31.——A general of Antiochus. See: [Artaxa].
Artayctes, a Persian appointed governor of Sestos by Xerxes. He was hung on a cross by the Athenians for his cruelties. Herodotus, bks. 7 & 9.
Artaynta, a Persian lady whom Xerxes gave in marriage to his son Darius. She was one of the mistresses of her father-in-law. Herodotus, bk. 9, ch. 103, &c.
Artayntes, a Persian appointed over a fleet in Greece by Xerxes. Herodotus, bk. 8, ch. 13; bk. 9, ch. 107.