Achaemenid dynasty

House of Achaemenes
Falcon Standard
Country	Persis
Founded	730 BC
Founder	Achaemenes
Final ruler	Darius III
Titles	Shah of Persia Pharaoh of Egypt King of Babylon King of the Four Corners of the World
Estate(s)	Persian Empire Anshan Parsumash
Dissolution	330 BC
Cadet branches	Kingdom of Pontus

The Achaemenid dynasty (Persian: دودمان هخامنشی) was an ancient Persian royal house. They were the ruling dynasty of Persia from about 700 to 330 BC.

Origin

The kings of the Achaemenid dynasty were Persian without doubt, but the fact that the mother of Cyrus the Great was a Median has led to the dynasty and its empire being referred to as the Medo-Persian Empire, though this term is most often used in biblical texts.

Dynasty

Achaemenid rulers

King	Reign (BC)	Comments
Achaemenes	730–650 BC	Founder of the Achaemenid dynasty and first King of Persia.
Teispes	650–625 BC
Cyrus I	625–580 BC
Cambyses I	580–559 BC
Cyrus II	559–530 BC	Cyrus the Great was the most notable ancient Persian king and one of the most celebrated strategists and rulers of all time. Cyrus at the height of his reign was simultaneously King of Persia, King of Babylon, King of Media and "King of the Four Corners of the World".
Cambyses II	530–522 BC	Conquered Egypt at the Battle of Pelusium, thus adding Pharaoh of Egypt to the titles of Persian kings.
Smerdis	522 BC	Might have been an imposter named Gaumata during his short reign.
Darius I	522–486 BC	Brought the empire to its greatest extent; launched initial foray into Greece.
Xerxes I	486–465 BC	Launched failed invasion of Greece.
Artaxerxes I	465–424 BC
Xerxes II	424 BC
Sogdianus	424–423 BC
Darius II	423–404 BC
Artaxerxes II	404–358 BC	Persia loses Egypt.
Artaxerxes III	358–338 BC	Persia regains Egypt.
Artaxerxes IV	338–336 BC
Darius III	336–330 BC	Defeated by Alexander of Macedon; Persia conquered; dynasty falls.

Family tree

Achaemenes King of Persia[*] 705–675

Teispes King of Persia 675–640

Ariaramnes Prince[*]

Cyrus I King of Persia 640–600

Arsames Prince[*]

Cambyses I King of Persia 600–559

Hystaspes Prince[*]

Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) King of Persia 559–530/28

Darius the Great (Darius I) King of Persia 522–486

Atossa Princess

Cambyses II King of Persia 530–522

Smerdis (Bardiya) Prince (imposter Gaumata ruled as Smerdis[*]) 522

Artystone Princess

Xerxes the Great (Xerxes I) King of Persia 485–465

Artaxerxes I King of Persia 465–424

Xerxes II King of Persia 424

Sogdianus King of Persia 424–423

Darius II King of Persia 423–404

Arsites Prince

Parysatis Princess

Bagapaios Prince

Artaxerxes II King of Persia 404–358

Amestris Princess

Cyrus the Younger Prince

Cyrus (IV) Prince

Ostanes Prince

Artaxerxes III King of Persia 358–338

Ocha Prince

Rodrogune Princess

Apama Princess

Sisygambis Princess

Arsames (II) Prince

Artaxerxes IV King of Persia 338–336

Parysatis (II) Princess

Darius III King of Persia 336–330

Oxathres Prince

Artaxerxes V King of Persia 330–329

Stateira II Princess

Alexander the Great (Alexander III) King of Macedon and Persia 329–323

See also

• Achaemenid Empire
• Argead dynasty