Ariobarzanes, Satrap of Persis

Ariobarzanes of Persia
Born	368 BC Persepolis, Persia
Died	January 20, 330 BC Persian Gates, near Persepolis
Parent(s)	Artabazus
Relatives	Youtab (sister)

Ariobarzanes (in Ancient Greek: Ἀριοβαρζάνης, in Persian: آریو برزن‎‎; also spelled as Ario Barzan or Aryo Barzan (meaning "exalting the Aryans"); died 330 BC), also known as Ariobarzanes the Brave, was an Achaemenid prince, satrap and a Persian military commander who led a last stand of the Persian army at the Battle of the Persian Gate against Macedonian King Alexander the Great in the winter of 330 BC.

Satrap or Satrapes, derived from Old Persian xsatrapa, means "Protector of the Land", and it was the name given to the provincial governors in the ancient Achaemenid Empire. Darius I or Darius the Great (522-486 BC) established 20 satraps with an annual tribute. Appointed by the king, satraps were usually of the royal family or Iranian nobility and held office indefinitely. They collected taxes, were the highest judicial authority, and were responsible for internal security and for raising and maintaining an army. A satrap was assisted by a council of Iranian noblemen, to which also provincials were admitted; and was controlled by a royal secretary and by emissaries of the king, especially the Eyes of the King. After the fall of Achaemenid Empire, Alexander the Great and his successors retained the satraps.

Though the exact birth-date of Ariobarzanes is unknown, it is speculated that he was born around 368 BC. His sister was the ancient Persian noblewoman and warrior Youtab. Ariobarzanes was made satrap of Persis (the southern province of Fars in present-day Iran) in 335 BC by Darius III Codomannus. Historians are surprised that Darius III appointed a satrap for Persepolis and Persis; apparently that office did not previously exist. Ariobarzanes commanded part of the Persian Army fighting against the Macedonians at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC.

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