Darīa, a town of Mesopotamia.
Dariaves, the name of Darius in Persian. Strabo, bk. 16.
Dariobrigum, a town of Gaul, now Vennes in Britany.
Darītæ, a people of Persia. Herodotus, bk. 3, ch. 92.
Darīus, a noble satrap of Persia, son of Hystaspes, who conspired with six other noblemen to destroy Smerdis, who usurped the crown of Persia after the death of Cambyses. On the murder of the usurper, the seven conspirators universally agreed, that he whose horse neighed first should be appointed king. In consequence of this resolution the groom of Darius previously led his master’s horse to a mare at a place near which the seven noblemen were to pass. On the morrow before sunrise, when they proceeded all together, the horse, recollecting the mare, suddenly neighed; and at the same time a clap of thunder was heard, as if in approbation of the choice. The noblemen dismounted from their horses, and saluted Darius king; and a resolution was made among them, that the king’s wives and concubines should be taken from no other family but that of the conspirators, and that they should for ever enjoy the unlimited privilege of being admitted into the king’s presence without previous introduction. Darius was 29 years old when he ascended the throne, and he soon distinguished himself by his activity and military accomplishments. He besieged Babylon, which he took after a siege of 20 months, by the artifices of Zopyrus. From thence he marched against the Scythians, and in his way conquered Thrace. This expedition was unsuccessful; and, after several losses and disasters in the wilds of Scythia, the king retired with shame, and soon after turned his arms against the Indians, whom he subdued. The burning of Sardis, which was a Grecian colony, incensed the Athenians, and a war was kindled between Greece and Persia. Darius was so exasperated against the Greeks, that a servant every evening, by his order, repeated these words: “Remember, O king, to punish the Athenians.” Mardonius, the king’s son-in-law, was entrusted with the care of the war, but his army was destroyed by the Thracians; and Darius, more animated by his loss, sent a more considerable force, under the command of Datis and Artaphernes. They were conquered at the celebrated battle of Marathon, by 10,000 Athenians; and the Persians lost in that expedition no less than 206,000 men. Darius was not disheartened by this severe blow, but he resolved to carry on the war in person, and immediately ordered a still larger army to be levied. He died in the midst of his preparations, B.C. 485, after a reign of 36 years, in the 65th year of his age. Herodotus, bks. 1, 2, &c.—Diodorus, bk. 1.—Justin, bk. 1, ch. 9.—Plutarch, Aristotle.—Cornelius Nepos, Miltiades.——The second king of Persia, of that name, was also called Ochus or Nothus, because he was the illegitimate son of Artaxerxes by a concubine. Soon after the murder of Xerxes he ascended the throne of Persia, and married Parysatis his sister, a cruel and ambitious woman, by whom he had Artaxerxes Memnon, Amestris, and Cyrus the younger. He carried on many wars with success, under the conduct of his generals and of his son Cyrus. He died B.C. 404, after a reign of 19 years, and was succeeded by his son Artaxerxes, who asked him on his death-bed, what had been the guide of his conduct in the management of the empire, that he might imitate him? “The dictates of justice and of religion,” replied the expiring monarch. Justin, bk. 5, ch. 11.—Diodorus, bk. 12.——The third of that name was the last king of Persia, surnamed Codomanus. He was son of Arsanes and Sysigambis, and descended from Darius Nothus. The eunuch Bagoas raised him to the throne, though not nearly allied to the royal family, in hopes that he would be subservient to his will; but he prepared to poison him, when he saw him despise his advice, and aim at independence. Darius discovered his perfidy, and made him drink the poison which he had prepared against his life. The peace of Darius was early disturbed, and Alexander invaded Persia to avenge the injuries which the Greeks had suffered from the predecessors of Darius. The king of Persia met his adversary in person, at the head of 600,000 men. This army was remarkable more for its opulence and luxury than for the military courage of its soldiers; and Athenæus mentions that the camp of Darius was crowded with 277 cooks, 29 waiters, 87 cup-bearers, 40 servants to perfume the king, and 66 to prepare garlands and flowers to deck the dishes and meat which appeared on the royal table. With these forces Darius met Alexander. A battle was fought near the Granicus, in which the Persians were easily defeated. Another was soon after fought near Issus; and Alexander left 110,000 of the enemy dead on the field of battle, and took among the prisoners of war, the mother, wife, and children of Darius. The darkness of the night favoured the retreat of Darius, and he saved himself by flying in disguise, on the horse of his armour-bearer. These losses weakened, but discouraged not Darius. He assembled another more powerful army, and the last decisive battle was fought at Arbela. The victory was long doubtful; but the intrepidity of Alexander, and the superior valour of the Macedonians, prevailed over the effeminate Persians; and Darius, sensible of his disgrace and ruin, fled towards Media. His misfortunes were now completed. Bessus the governor of Bactriana took away his life, in hopes of succeeding him on the throne; and Darius was found by the Macedonians in his chariot, covered with wounds, and almost expiring, B.C. 331. He asked for water, and exclaimed, when he received it from the hand of a Macedonian, “It is the greatest of my misfortunes that I cannot reward thy humanity. Beg Alexander to accept my warmest thanks for the tenderness with which he has treated my wretched family, whilst I am doomed to perish by the hand of a man whom I have loaded with kindness.” These words of the dying monarch were reported to Alexander, who covered the dead body with his own mantle, and honoured it with a most magnificent funeral. The traitor Bessus met with a due punishment from the conquerer, who continued his kindness to the unfortunate family of Darius. Darius has been accused of imprudence, for the imperious and arrogant manner in which he wrote his letters to Alexander, in the midst of his misfortunes. In him the empire of Persia was extinguished 228 years after it had been first founded by Cyrus the Great. Diodorus, bk. 17.—Plutarch, Alexander.—Justin, bks. 10, 11, &c.—Curtius.——A son of Xerxes, who married Artaynta, and was killed by Artabanus. Herodotus, bk. 9, ch. 108.—Diodorus, bk. 11.——A son of Artaxerxes, declared successor to the throne, as being the eldest prince. He conspired against his father’s life, and was capitally punished. Plutarch, Artaxerxes.
Dascon, a man who founded Camarina. Thucydides, bk. 6, ch. 5.
Dascylitis, a province of Persia. Thucydides, bk. 1, ch. 129.
Dascy̆lus, the father of Gyges. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 8.
Dasea, a town of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 27.
Dasius, a chief of Salapia, who favoured Annibal. Livy, bk. 26, ch. 38.