# Darius III

> last king of the Achaemenid Empire (r. 336–330 BC)

**Wikidata**: [Q102865](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102865)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_III)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/darius-iii

## Summary

Darius III (also known as Darius III Codomannus) was the last king of the Achaemenid Empire, ruling from 336 to 330 BC. He is historically significant as the final monarch of the ancient Persian Empire before its conquest by Alexander the Great, and his reign marked the end of one of the largest empires in ancient history.

## Biography

- **Born:** 380 BC
- **Nationality:** Persian (Achaemenid Empire)
- **Education:** Not specified in source material
- **Known for:** Being the last king of the Achaemenid Empire; ruling during its final years before conquest by Alexander the Great
- **Employer(s):** Achaemenid Empire (ruler)
- **Field(s):** Monarchy / Royalty

## Contributions

As the last Achaemenid king, Darius III's primary contribution was his attempt to defend the Persian Empire against the Macedonian conquests led by Alexander the Great. His reign spanned the critical final years of the Achaemenid Empire (336–330 BC), during which he led Persian forces in several major battles including the Battle of Issus (333 BC) and the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC). Though ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the empire's fall, his leadership represented the final stand of the Achaemenid dynasty against the expanding Macedonian power.

## FAQs

**What was Darius III's role in history?**
Darius III was the thirty-third and final king of the Achaemenid Empire, ruling from 336 BC until his death in 330 BC. He ascended to the throne following the assassination of his predecessor Artaxerxes IV.

**How did Darius III die?**
Darius III died in 330 BC. Historical sources indicate he was killed by his own generals Bessus and Barsaentes while fleeing from Alexander the Great's forces.

**What was the Achaemenid Empire?**
The Achaemenid Empire was an Iranian (Persian) empire that existed from 550 to 330 BC, making it one of the largest and most powerful empires in ancient history before its conquest by Alexander the Great.

**What battles did Darius III fight?**
Darius III led Persian forces in several major confrontations with Alexander the Great, including the Battles of Granicus (334 BC), Issus (333 BC), and Gaugamela (331 BC), the last of which resulted in the effective end of Achaemenid resistance.

**What is Darius III's legacy?**
Darius III is remembered as the final monarch of the Achaemenid dynasty, whose defeat marked the end of the Persian Empire that had dominated the Near East for over two centuries.

## Why They Matter

Darius III matters in history because his reign represents the terminal point of the Achaemenid Empire, one of the most significant civilizations in ancient history. The fall of his empire under Alexander's conquests fundamentally reshaped the political landscape of the ancient world, ending Persian dominance in the Near East and ushering in the Hellenistic period. Without Darius III's final stand, the transition from Persian to Greco-Macedonian rule would have occurred differently, potentially altering the cultural and political development of the entire region. His defeat at Gaugamela in 331 BC is often cited as one of history's most decisive battles, permanently changing the course of ancient civilization.

## Notable For

- Last king of the Achaemenid Empire (r. 336–330 BC)
- Ruled during the final years of the Persian Empire
- Led Persian forces in three major battles against Alexander the Great
- Known by the regnal name Codomannus
- Subject of numerous historical accounts documenting the fall of Persia

## Body

### Early Life and Accession

Darius III, also known as Darius III Codomannus, was born in 380 BC into the Achaemenid royal family. He ascended to the throne in 336 BC following the assassination of his predecessor, Artaxerxes IV. His rise to power came at a critical moment in Persian history, as the empire faced growing pressure from the expanding Macedonian kingdom under Philip II of Macedon, and later his son Alexander the Great.

### Reign and Leadership

As the thirty-third king of the Achaemenid dynasty, Darius III inherited an empire that, while still vast, had experienced internal weaknesses and external pressures. His reign lasted from 336 BC until his death in 330 BC, a period of approximately six years during which he attempted to rally the Persian forces against the Macedonian invasion.

Darius III assumed direct command of Persian armies during the confrontations with Alexander the Great, distinguishing himself by personally leading troops in battle—a tradition that had characterized Achaemenid kingship. His first major engagement with Alexander came at the Battle of Granicus in 334 BC, followed by the decisive Battle of Issus in 333 BC, where he faced the Macedonian forces directly.

### Military Campaigns

The Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC represented Darius III's final major military engagement as king. Despite his personal courage and efforts to defend the empire, the Persian forces were defeated by Alexander's army. Following this defeat, Darius fled eastward, attempting to rally new forces, but was ultimately betrayed and killed by his own nobles Bessus and Barsaentes in 330 BC.

### Historical Significance

The death of Darius III marked the definitive end of the Achaemenid Empire, which had ruled since 550 BC. His defeat created a power vacuum that Alexander filled, establishing the Hellenistic period in Persian history. The fall of the Achaemenid Empire under Darius III represented one of the most significant political transformations in ancient history, ending over two centuries of Persian dominance in the Near East and replacing it with Greco-Macedonian rule.

### Cultural and Historical Records

Darius III appears in numerous classical historical sources documenting the period, including accounts of Alexander's conquests. His name appears in multiple languages and transliterations: Δαρεος in Greek, 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 in Old Persian (darayavaush), and various forms in other languages including Dario III in Spanish, Dareios III in German, and Dàrio III in Catalan.

### Identifiers and Documentation

The source material provides extensive identifier data for Darius III across multiple databases and cataloging systems, including Wikidata (P646: /m/0cpdg), Library of Congress identifiers (P1207: n2019023087, P244: n84079608), VIAF (P214: 231805730), and numerous other institutional references confirming his historical documentation and scholarly study.

## References

1. Q45269600
2. Source
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. RSKD / Darius
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. CERL Thesaurus