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Ariobarzanes (d.c.) was the leader of the
Satrap's revolt against Artaxerxes II. He was
satrap of Phrygia, a post he gained at some point after 387. In that year he
was recorded as acting in place of
Pharnabazus, the
long-established satrap, who had returned to court to marry a daughter of
Artaxerxes II, and as providing a fleet to support Sparta in their conflict
with Athens. He was on friendly terms with Athena and Sparta. In 368
Ariobarzanes sent Philiscus of Abydus to Greece, officially to try and end the
war between Sparta and an alliance led by Thebes. This fell apart over the
issue of Messene, and Philiscus then began to recruit a force of mercenaries.
According to Xenophon (Hellenic, VII.1.27) these troops were to aid Sparta, but
it is equally likely that they were actually intended to support Ariobarzanes's
planned revolt. Soon afterwards Ariobarzanes rebelled and must have held an
area around the Hellespont for some time. Artaxerxes II sent three satraps to
deal with this revolt - Mausolus of Caria was sent with a fleet to blockade
him. Autophradates of Lydia besieged him in either Adramyttium or Assus
(north-west Anatolia), while Cotys, satrap of Paphlagonia and king of Thrace
besieged Sestus on the European side of the Hellespont. Ariobarzanes tried to
gain help from Athens and Sparta. The sieges were both lifted after King
Agesilaus of Sparta arrived on the scene.
Autophradates is said to have fled in terror, Cotys to have more reluctantly
withdrawn and Mausolus convinced to leave by his friend Agesilaus. Mausolus and
some of other leaders also paid Agesilaus, possibly to hire Spartan mercenaries
ready for their own revolt. Athens also sent a contingent, under
Timotheus, but with
instructions not to intervene if that would breach their treaty with the
Persians.
When it became clear that this was indeed the case, Timotheus turned away and
captured Samos instead. During the third phase of the Satrap's Revolt
Ariobarzanes was one of the rebels but not the leader. He was probably betrayed
by his son Mithridates. Xenophon mentions this in passing in his Cyropaadia, as
an example of the failings of the Persians of his day. Aristotle mentions it in
passing in his Politics of c.350 BC (or possibly later).
The same Mithridates was responsible for the death of the rebel satrap Datames,
gaining his confidence by pretending to join the revolt then assassinating him
at a meeting. Diodorus causes a certain amount of confusion, probably getting
the rebellious satrap Ariobarzanes mixed up with another man of the same name,
probably our man's nephew who ruled in the Pontus region from around 362 to
337. This Ariobarzanes also has a son called Mithridates, but they probably
lived too late to be the father and son famous for the betrayal.
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