Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did Artaxerxes II defeat the revolting satraps?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Relief of three Achaemenid warriors, known as the Ten Thousand Immortals, depicted in profile on glazed bricks with patterned robes and bows, from the Palace of Artaxerxes at Susa.
Achaemenid Empire Frieze of Archers from the palace of Darius I at Susa, c. 510 bce; some believe the warriors are among the Ten Thousand Immortals.

The revolt of the satraps (c. 366 BCE) was a significant uprising against Artaxerxes II by provincial governors in Anatolia who were allied with Athens, Sparta, and Egypt.12

The rebellion was ultimately suppressed through a combination of strategic circumstances and political maneuvering:

  • Collapse of Coordination: The rebels intended to launch a combined attack on the central authority, coordinating their march through Syria with an Egyptian offensive led by King Tachos. However, this plan failed when the Egyptian attack was aborted due to a separate internal revolt by Tachos’s brother.23
  • Mutual Distrust: The satraps were weakened by internal discord and mutual suspicion, which prevented them from maintaining a unified front against the king.1
  • Treacheries and Reconciliation: Artaxerxes II successfully utilized a series of treacheries to break the rebellion. Once the satraps were isolated, many were forgiven and allowed to return to their governorships. It appears that these leaders ultimately preferred to return to their provinces and exercise local authority in the name of the king rather than continue an open conflict against the central government.123