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Bardiya
Son of Cyrus the Great (died c. 522 BC) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Gautama (disambiguation).
"Gaumata" redirects here. For Hindu term, see Gau Mata.
For other uses, see Bardiya (disambiguation).
Bardiya or Smerdis (Old Persian: 𐎲𐎼𐎮𐎡𐎹[1] Bardiya;[2] Ancient Greek: Σμέρδις Smérdis;[3] possibly died 522 BCE), also named as Tanyoxarces (Old Persian: *Tanūvazraka; Ancient Greek: Τανυοξάρκης Tanuoxárkēs) by Ctesias, was a son of Cyrus the Great and the younger brother of Cambyses II, both Persian kings. There are sharply divided views on his life. Bardiya either ruled the Achaemenid Empire for a few months in 522 BCE, or was impersonated by a magus called Gaumata (Old Persian: 𐎥𐎢𐎶𐎠𐎫 Gaumāta), whose name is given by Ctesias as Sphendadates (Old Persian: *Spantadātah; Ancient Greek: Σφενδαδάτης Sphendadátēs), until he was toppled by Darius the Great.[4][2]
Quick Facts Bardiya 𐎲𐎼𐎮𐎡𐎹, Reign ...
Bardiya 𐎲𐎼𐎮𐎡𐎹 | |
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![]() Portrait of the Achaemenid ruler toppled by Darius, as appearing on the Behistun inscription: he was either the legitimate Bardiya, or, as claimed by Darius, an imposter named Gaumāta. | |
King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, Pharaoh of Egypt | |
Reign | 522 BC |
Predecessor | Cambyses II |
Successor | Darius the Great |
Burial | 522 BC |
Spouse | Phaedymia |
Issue | Parmys |
Dynasty | Achaemenid |
Father | Cyrus the Great |
Mother | Cassandane |
Religion | Zoroastrianism |
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