Amestris Shahbanu – The tarnished reputation of King Xerxes I of the Babylonian Empire’s Queen

Amestris Shahbanu was one of the most powerful Persian Queens during the Babylonian Empire.^[1] She was Queen to King Xerxes I and the mother of King Artaxerxes I. Greek historians, Herodotus and Ctesias, have portrayed her to be as a ruthless Queen who has an unquenchable thirst for blood.^[2] However, modern historians believe this depiction of her to be false.^[3] Nevertheless, Amestris Shahbanu continued to be influential during the reigns of both her husband and her son.^[4]

On 22 September 522 B.C.E., King Bardiya of the Babylonian Empire was assassinated. This paved the way for Darius I the Great’s ascension to the Persian throne. King Darius I the Great of the Babylonian Empire rewarded the seven conspirators involved in the assassination. One of them was Otanes.^[5] King Darius I the Great of the Babylonian Empire married Otanes’ daughter named Phaedymia. Octanes married King Darius I the Great of the Babylonian Empire’s sister, whose name remains unrecorded.^[6] In circa 510 B.C.E., King Darius I the Great of the Babylonian Empire’s unnamed sister and Otanes welcomed a daughter named Amestris, which means “Strong Woman.”^[7]

When King Darius I the Great of the Babylonian Empire died in 486 B.C.E., Amestris was already married to Crown Prince Xerxes.^[8] When Crown Prince Xerxes ascended to the Persian throne, Amestris was made Shahbanu (which was the Persian title for Queen).^[9] She was in her thirties.^[10] Herodotus and Ctesias portrayed Amestris Shahbanu as a cruel and bloodthirsty Queen.^[11] She was said to have sacrificed seven noble Persian boys to “the god of the netherworld.”^[12] However, many modern historians believe there is no evidence for this claim.^[13] This was because human sacrifices were forbidden in the Babylonian Empire.^[14] Amestris Shahbanu bore King Xerxes I of the Babylonian Empire a son named Prince Darius, another son named Prince Artaxerxes (who would succeed King Xerxes I as King of the Babylonian Empire), and another son named Prince Achaemenes.^[15] She also bore a daughter named Princess Amytis.^[16]

In August 465 B.C.E., King Xerxes I of the Babylonian Empire was assassinated. Prince Darius also died. It is still unknown how he died.^[17] Prince Artaxerxes ascended to the Persian throne. During the reign of King Artaxerxes I of the Babylonian Empire, Amestris Shahbanu became the most powerful and influential woman in the Persian court.^[18] Prince Achaemenes was killed by the Egyptian rebels.^[19] The Egyptian rebels and their Athenian allies were defeated by General Megabyzus.^[20] According to Greek historians, Amestris Shahbanu was angry with General Megabyzus because he did not punish the Egyptian rebels who killed her son.^[21] Five years later, King Artaxerxes I of the Babylonian Empire gave permission for Amestris Shahbanu to crucify Inaris (the leader of the Egyptian rebels) and to kill several other rebel captives.^[22] Amestris Shahbanu died late in the reign of King Artaxerxes I of the Babylonian Empire in circa 424 B.C.E.^[23]

Even though very little information is known about Amestris Shahbanu, it is clear that she was politically significant in the Babylonian Empire.^[24] She was both a Queen and Queen Mother. She was even able to get revenge on those who murdered her son. Yet, her reputation is badly damaged because her enemies (the Greeks) have tarnished her name.^[25] Despite her reputation, Amestris Shahbanu is slowly proving to historians that she was one of the most influential Persian Queens in the Babylonian Empire.^[26]

Sources:

“From The Desk of THE EDITOR: POWERFUL WOMEN OF PERSIA”. (2018). Rahavard Persian Journal, 121, 347-338.

Lendering, J. (27 April, 2019). “Amestris”. Livius.org. Retrieved on 23 January 2024 from https://www.livius.org/articles/person/amestris/.

Schmitt, R. (2 August, 2011). “Amestris”. Encyclopaedia Iranica, I/9. 935-936. Retrieved on 23 January 2024 from https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/amestris-gr.