Datames
Datames ( nickname of the old Persian word Datamithra- , Greek: Δατάμης; † 362 BC ) was an official and general in the Persian empire of the Achaemenids .
His life was described in detail in a biography by Cornelius Nepos .
Datames was a son of Kamisares and Scythissa. Diodorus later rumored that his grandfather was Anaphas, who was one of the conspirators against Gaumata , and that he was one of the ancestors of the later royal dynasty of Cappadocia. His father came from Caria and was appointed governor ( satrap ) of the part of Cilicia bordering on Cappadocia in which the Leucosyrians lived because of his services by the Great King Artaxerxes II . Datames himself initially served in the corps of the king's bodyguards and took part in 382 BC. In the war against the Kardusier, when his father fell. Datames was able to succeed him as a satrap in Cilicia. He then supported Autophradates in the fight against the rebellious satraps of Asia Minor.
Then Datames was entrusted with the submission of the prince of the Paphlagonians , Thyus, who was also his cousin. During a joint interview, Datames was supposed to be killed by an assassination attempt, but his mother warned him in good time. Thyus and his family were subsequently captured after a brief battle. Presumably, as a reward for this success, he was now also appointed governor of Cappadocia, as whom he is mentioned above all by Diodorus. In 373 BC BC Datames in the Phoenician Ake was appointed commander in chief of the invading army for Egypt by replacing Pharnabazos . Instead of attacking Egypt, however, he was charged with fighting the revolting governor of Cataonia , Aspis, whom he was able to take prisoner in Pisidia .
According to Cornelius Nepos, envious people at the court of the great king intrigued against Datames, who aimed at his annihilation. This caused him to hand over command of the invading army to Mandrokles in order to leave for Cappadocia. He allied himself with the governor of Phrygia , Ariobarzanes , who had been in a revolt ( satrap revolt ) against the great king for a long time . His older son, Sysinas, had, however, sided with the great king. After a successful fight against the Pisidians, in which his second son Arsidaios had died, Datames asserted himself against the royal general Autophradates , who had been sent to fight him. After a few unsuccessful assassinations against him, Datames was found in 362 BC. Murdered by Mithridates, the loyal son of Ariobarzanes. His successor in Cilicia was Mazaios , in Cappadocia it was Ariamnes .
Individual evidence
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Datames |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Δατάμης |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Persian satrap |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 5th century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 362 BC Chr. |