Megabazos
Megabazos ( Greek Μεγάβαζος ; † before 493 BC) was a general and governor ( satrap ) in the Persian empire of the Achaemenids . Referring to his son Megabates, Herodotus reported that the Megabazos family itself belonged to the Achaemenid dynasty.
Megabazos accompanied the great king Dareios I in the year 513 BC. On the campaign against the Scythians in Europe. After this had to be aborted without result, Megabazos was left as commander-in-chief of an 80,000-man army in Europe with the task of subjugating the Greek cities on the Hellespont . After this was successfully implemented with the capture of Perinthos , he also secured the coastal regions of Thrace from Persian influence. Then Megabazos received the order to deport the peonies who settled in what is now western Bulgaria along the Strymon . He defeated the peonies by bypassing their armies, which were gathered on the Aegean coast , in order to be able to burn down the unguarded cities. Then the peonians surrendered, who were resettled in new regions, including Phrygia .
During the Peonies Campaign, Megabazos took the opportunity to make the Macedonians, who had settled west of the Peons, liable for tribute. King Amyntas I willingly handed him earth and water as a sign of submission, but there were disagreements after the members of the Persian delegation insulted the Macedonians and pressed their wives. Prince Alexandros repaid this by murdering the Persian diplomats with his supporters. The conflict was later resolved through the marriage of Megabazos' son, Bubares, to the Macedonian princess Gygaia.
On his retreat from Europe, Megabazos issued a warning to the great king regarding the colonization of Myrkinos in the Edonerland by the tyrant of Miletus , Histiaios . After his return to Asia Minor, he took over the province (satrapy) Phrygia with the Daskyleion residence .
Megabazos had four sons known by name:
- Oibares ; becomes 493 BC Named as satrap of Daskyleion
- Bubares ; Engineer of the Athos Canal
- Megabates ; Fleet Commander and Satrap of Daskyleion
- Pherendates ; fell around 465 BC As a general in the battle of Eurymedon
Web link
- Jona Lendering: Megabazus . In: Livius.org (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Herodotus 5.32
- ↑ Herodotus 4.143-144
- ↑ Herodotus 5.2
- ↑ Herodotus 5.13-15
- ↑ Herodotus 5.17-21
- ↑ Herodotus 5.23
- ↑ Herodotus 6.33
- ↑ Diodorus 11.61.3; Diodorus named Pherendates a nephew of the Great King (Xerxes I), which suggests that his mother was a daughter of the Great King Dareios I.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Megabazos |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Μεγάβαζος |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Satrap of Phrygia |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 6th century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | before 493 BC Chr. |