Artabanus

Artabanus (died 465/464 bc) was the minister of the Achaemenid king Xerxes I of Persia, whom he murdered. According to one Greek source, Artabanus had previously killed Xerxes’ son Darius and feared that the father would avenge him; other sources relate that he killed Xerxes first and then, pretending that Darius had done so, induced Darius’ brother Artaxerxes I to avenge the “parricide.” Artabanus was in control of the Achaemenid state for seven months and was recognized as king by Egypt. Finally, however, he was betrayed by his fellow conspirator Megabyzus and was killed by Artaxerxes.