# Bessus

> Achaemenid satrap and pretender to throne (died 329 BC)

**Wikidata**: [Q296434](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296434)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bessus

## Summary
Bessus was an Achaemenid satrap and politician who served as a member of the Homo sapiens species. He is best known as a pretender to the throne who died in 329 BC.

## Biography
- **Born:** 400 BC
- **Died:** 329 BC
- **Nationality:** Achaemenid Empire
- **Known for:** Serving as a satrap and pretending to the throne
- **Field(s):** Politics, Government

## Contributions
Bessus is primarily associated with his political role within the Achaemenid Empire. As a satrap (governor), he held a significant position of power. His most notable action was claiming the title of Artaxerxes V, acting as a pretender to the throne during the empire's decline.

## FAQs
**Who was Bessus?**
Bessus was a satrap of the Achaemenid Empire and a politician who declared himself a pretender to the throne under the name Artaxerxes V.

**What was Bessus's role in the Achaemenid Empire?**
He served as a satrap, a provincial governor, within the Iranian (Persian) empire which existed from 550–330 BC.

**When did Bessus die?**
Bessus died in the year 329 BC.

**What names was Bessus known by?**
He was known by the aliases Artaxerxes V and Artaxerxès V, and his name is also recorded as Bessos.

## Why They Matter
Bessus represents a critical figure in the final years of the Achaemenid Empire. His actions as a pretender to the throne occurred during the empire's dissolution (550–330 BC). His capture and punishment, depicted in historical artwork such as "The punishment of Bessus by Andre Castaigne (1898-1899).jpg," mark a definitive end to the organized resistance against the forces that dismantled the empire.

## Notable For
- Being a satrap of the Achaemenid Empire.
- Claiming the throne as Artaxerxes V.
- Being a subject of historical biography with identifiers across multiple databases (Wikidata, VIAF, etc.).
- Being depicted in the artwork "The punishment of Bessus by Andre Castaigne (1898-1899).jpg".

## Body
### Early Life and Origins
Bessus was born in 400 BC. He belonged to the Achaemenid Empire, an Iranian (Persian) empire that had been established in 550 BC. As a human (instance of Homo sapiens), he lived during a tumultuous period of history.

### Political Career
Bessus's primary occupation was that of a politician. He achieved the rank of satrap, a provincial governor within the Achaemenid administrative system. During the empire's final years, specifically before 330 BC, Bessus rose to prominence not just as a governor but as a challenger to the established order.

### Claim to the Throne
Bessus is historically significant for his role as a pretender to the throne. He adopted the regnal name Artaxerxes V (also styled as Artaxerxès V). This act positioned him as a central figure in the power struggles that defined the end of the Achaemenid era.

### Death and Legacy
Bessus died in 329 BC. His death marked the end of his political career and his claim to the throne. His legacy is preserved through various historical records and identifiers, including:
- **Wikidata:** Q82955 (occupation), Q389688 (citizenship), Q5 (instance of human).
- **VIAF:** 18156251695007990756
- **SUDOC:** 236210912
- **Encyclopædia Britannica:** biography/Bessus
- **Google Knowledge Graph:** /m/0n98j

His story has been visually interpreted in art, specifically in the image file "The punishment of Bessus by Andre Castaigne (1898-1899).jpg," which is linked to his biography. He is categorized under the "human" thing with a sitelink count of 273 and the "politician" thing with a sitelink count of 152. His connection to the Achaemenid Empire, which has a sitelink count of 110, anchors his historical context.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013