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Satibarzanes (in Greek: d. 330, a Persian,
was satrap of Aria under Darius III, king of Persia. In 330, Alexander the
Great, marching through the borders of Aria on his way from Hyrcania against
the Parthians, was met at a city named Susia by Satibarzanes, who made
submission to him, and was rewarded for it by the restoration of his satrapy.
In order to prevent the commission of any hostilities against the Arians by the
Macedonian troops which were following from the west, Alexander left behind
with Satibarzanes forty horse-dartmen, under the command of Anaxippus. These,
however, together with their commander, were soon after murdered by the satrap,
who excited the Arians to rebellion, and gathered his forces together at the
city of Artacoana. On the approach of Alexander, he fled to join the traitor
Bessus; and the city, after a short siege, was captured by the Macedonians.
Towards the end of the same year (330), Alexander, heard that Satibarzanes had
again entered Aria with 2000 horses, supplied by Bessus, and had excited the
Arians to another revolt. According to Arrian, upon this, he sent a force
against him, led by Artabazus, Erigyius, Caranus, and Andronicus of Olynthus.
In a battle which ensued, and of which the issue was yet doubtful, Satibarzanes
came forward and defied any one of the enemy's generals to single combat. The
challenge was accepted by Erigyius, and Satibarzanes was slain.
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