Atossa Shahbanu – Princess, thrice a Queen, and Queen Mother of the first Persian Empire

Queen Atossa Shahbanu was the daughter of King Cyrus the Great. She was Queen to three Persian Kings: King Cambyses II, the False Smerdis, and King Darius the Great. She was also Queen Mother of King Xerxes I. Queen Atossa Shahbanu wielded immense political influence in the first Persian Empire. Thus, Queen Atossa Shahbanu played an unusual role in the Persian Empire.

All of the information regarding Queen Atossa Shahbanu comes from the Greek historian Herodotus.^[1] The name Atossa is not mentioned in any Persian texts.^[2] This is because women are excluded from the palace reliefs of Persepolis.^[3] However, there is a general agreement among historians that Atossa Shahbanu was a real historical figure, and all the facts that Herodotus has mentioned about her are true.^[4] Atossa’s Persian name may have been Udusana.^[5] If that was her Persian name, then she is mentioned at least six times in the Persian texts.^[6] She may also have been named Hutaosa, which means “well granting.”^[7]

In circa 545 B.C.E., Queen Atossa Shahbanu was born in Persia. She was the daughter of King Cyrus the Great of the first Persian Empire. It is uncertain who her mother was.^[8] It may have been Queen Cassandane Shahbanu.^[9]In 530 B.C.E., King Cyrus the Great died. His son, Prince Cambyses II, succeeded him as King of the Persian Empire.

King Cambyses II wanted to follow the Egyptian culture of having a sister-wife.^[10] However, this caused an outrage among the Persian nobility.^[11] King Cambyses II asked the Persian judges to find a law that a man could not marry his sister.^[12] The Persian judges said they could not find the law, but there was a law that a King had the freedom to do what he wanted.^[13] The judges gave King Cambyses II permission to have a sister-wife.^[14] King Cambyses II married his sister, Princess Atossa.^[15] Princess Atossa became Queen of the Persian Empire.^[16]

In 525 B.C.E., King Cambyses II launched a war against Egypt. The campaign was successful. Once he returned, King Cambyses II became suspicious of his brother, Prince Bardiya (also known as Prince Smerdis).^[17] King Cambyses II secretly had him assassinated and kept the murder a secret.^[18] This created trouble for him because an imposter claimed to be Prince Bardiya and launched a rebellion against him in 522 B.C.E.^[19] The False Smerdis grew in popularity and offered his supporters three years of tax relief.^[20] This led him to easily seize control of the provinces.^[21] King Cambyses II tried to quash the rebellion but failed.^[22] On his way back to the palace, he died.^[23] Many historians believe he committed suicide.^[24]

The False Smerdis entered the palace and became King of the Persian Empire. He took Queen Atossa Shahbanu as his Queen.^[25] He also married the other wives of King Cambyses II.^[26] Prince Darius and six other Persian nobles overthrew the False Smerdis.^[27] Prince Darius became King of the Persian Empire. King Darius the Great married Atossa Shahbanu.^[28] She became Queen of the Persian Empire for the third time.^[29] His marriage to Queen Atossa Shahbanu legitimised his rule.^[30] He also married Queen Atossa’s sister, Princess Artystone.^[31] He also married Queen Atossa’s niece, Parmys.^[32] King Darius the Great reformed the government of the Persian Empire.^[33] He was known as a “lawgiver and organiser.”^[34]

Queen Atossa Shahbanu may not have been King Darius the Great’s favourite wife.^[35] Some historians believe that King Darius the Great’s favourite wife was Princess Artystone because she was mentioned more in the surviving Persian texts.^[36] Nevertheless, Queen Atossa Shahbanu bore King Darius the Great four sons named Prince Xerxes, Prince Hystaspes (who became the leader of the Saka and Bactrian troops), Prince Masistes (who became one of King Xerxes’ generals), and Prince Achaemenes (who became the Admiral of the Egyptian fleet).^[37] Queen Atossa Shahbanu was also said to be highly influential in King Darius the Great’s court.^[38] In 487 B.C.E., Queen Atossa Shahbanu managed to persuade King Darius the Great to make Prince Xerxes his heir apparent.^[39] King Darius the Great also made Prince Xerxes the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian Army.^[40]

In 486 B.C.E., King Darius the Great died. Prince Xerxes ascended the Persian throne. Atossa Shahbanu became the Queen Mother.^[41] She even persuaded King Xerxes to invade Greece.^[42] In circa 479 B.C.E., Queen Atossa Shahbanu died.^[43]

Queen Atossa Shahbanu played an important role in the first Persian Empire. She was a Princess, thrice a Queen, and Queen Mother. She was highly influential in making her son King Darius the Great’s successor. Queen Atossa Shahbanu is most famously known for being a central character in Aeschylus’s Greek drama, The Persians.^[44] Even though she is rarely mentioned in Persian sources, it is clear that Queen Atossa Shahbanu was one of the most powerful women in the first Persian Empire.

Sources:

Llewellyn-Jones, L. (2022). Persians: The Age of the Great Kings. NY: Basic Books.

Myers, A. (2023). “Atossa”. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia.

Schmitt, R. (1987). “Atossa”. Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 1. pp. 13–14.