COUP DARIUS

Persia. 522 BC

In the year 522 BC Persians for more than three years, owned by Egypt, and their king Cambyses rioted in the conquered country. We do not know what crime he would perpetrate more, if not for one event in Persia, made him flee the coast of the Nile.

Going to a campaign, Cambyses left the superintendent of the royal palace at Susa Mede Patizifa is yet to Cyrus the Great, father of the current king. But no one guessed that under the guise of a true nobleman hiding dangerous conspirator. Patizif belonged to the caste of the Median magi, who since the conquest of Media by Cyrus dreamed of restoring independence.

Faithful people told Patizifu from Egypt that Cambyses ordered to kill his brother, Bardiya, a popular favorite and dangerous contender for the Persian throne. The order was executed. But the death of the younger son of Cyrus was kept secret, and few people knew about it. And here magicians ripe plan: replace the dead impostor.

The fact that Patizifa had a brother named Gaumata, which apparently was very similar to the late Bardia. Gaumata under the name of Bardiya "ascended" to the Persian throne. Herodotus said that "the magician sent to all the peoples of his kingdom disposal of freedom from military service and from taxes for three years. " A popular measure was a success. He acknowledged the Persians at Susa, Babylon, Midia and Lydia, too, hastened to assure the new king in vernopoddannichestve.

At the same time Gaumata ordered to destroy the sanctuary of the Persians - the tribal culture centers - willows for the Median nobility tried to destroy the still-preserved community organization Persis with the aim of harming the Persian soldiers, members of the community.

But in Egypt was a real king - Cambyses. Under his command was though not very big, but true to his army. In addition, Cambyses, having in possession finikiys Kie ships, remained master of the eastern part of the Hellenic Sea. Since this could not be ignored. But by the time of his return from Egypt, the plotters had hoped to gather a great army of the Babylonians, Medes and other nations, which weighed heavily on the rule of the Persians.

Photo — «Coup Darius»

With that some troops and they were going to engage in combat with Cambyses.

Having made his brother king Patizif decided to send to Cambyses in Egypt, a messenger with a demand to voluntarily abandon the tsarist regime and to come to Susa, to kneel before the new ruler of the Persian empire.

A month later, a messenger Patizifa arrived in Memphis and told Cambyses that his brother Bardiya proclaimed himself ruler. This news shocked the king, because of his orders Bardiya was slain. They called an Executive Order Preksaspa. He vowed that his hands gave the body the younger son of Cyrus the ground. Preksasp suggested that an impostor took the throne. It soon became apparent and his real name.

Leaving his viceroy in Egypt noble Persian Aryandes with the third part of the troops, Cambyses was made from Memphis to Susa.

Being already in Syria, the Persian king in an accident, hurt her leg. Cambyses was forced to suspend the campaign. On the twentieth day of illness, his condition deteriorated. Cambyses called his noblest Persians, and opened them the truth. He commanded regain power from the Medes and deal with Patizifom and Lzhebardiey.

The next day, Cambyses died. He had no children to inherit his power, there was no one, and between the Persians began arguing. Some refused to believe that magicians seized power. They thought that Bardiya was alive, and therefore should go to Susa and kneel before the new master. Others, however, believe that in Susa ruled by the conspirators, were in favor of war with the usurper Gaumata Bardet.

Apart from all behaved 27-year-old Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the representative of the younger branch of the Achaemenid royal lineage. While the debate went, he gathered around him a loyal people, seized the body of Cambyses and went to Persia, in Pasargadae, where he would bring the remains of the king of the land . . .

In Persia itself, only a few members of the nobility treated Gaumata as a usurper and thinking about his downfall. One of them was Otan, the son Farnaspa.

Photo — «Coup Darius»

By origin and wealth he was among the most influential people in Persia, and every day was in the royal palace for the solution of public affairs. Otani seemed strange that the new king never appeared in the throne room and did not call for me none of the Persian noblemen to address the critical state of affairs, as did Cyrus and Cambyses. Most on his behalf said the superintendent of the palace Patizif. Barely past the attention Otan and the sudden disappearance of his brother Patizifa, Gaumata. A terrible suspicion require confirmation. He recalled that at the beginning of his reign, Cambyses for some fault ordered to cut Gaumata ears and he concealed his injury long hair on top of which put more and wig. But how to check when he is not showing his subjects in his eyes and did not let to itself, surrounded by many guards? Otan told about his daughter Fedime guesses, and they have matured plan.

The next day, told Otan Lzhebardii their desire to give him his daughter Fedimu. Overjoyed, the magician sent for the girl servants.

Soon Fedima learned all that was required. Persia is not really rules Bardia, and the Median magician Gaumata. Otan told the secret of loyal friends - and Aspafinu Gobryas. Together they planning to overthrow the usurper to the throne, but it should enlist the support of other Persian noblemen. Thus, the conspirators joined Megabyzus, serving faithfully for Cyrus and his son Cambyses, Intafren, Gidarn Later they were joined by Darius.

But there was another man who knew exactly what Persia manages impostor - Preksasp. Immediately after the death of Cambyses, he came to Susa. But fear of retribution for the killing of Bardiya, Preksasp always said that did not kill the prince Cambyses and slandered him.

However, in the streets and market square Susa continued to whisper about the king-pretender, a fraud who had seized power in the state. Fearing exposure, the magi were invited to a Preksaspa and offered him big money to address the Persians with the statement that Bardia is alive and it was he who governs them, and not someone else.

Photo — «Coup Darius»

On the appointed day, accompanied by Preksasp Patizifa and several guards climbed a high tower. On the square was already a crowd. At first everything went according to plan Median magi. And suddenly, at the end of his speech Preksasp shouted: "Persians! Now is the time when you need to know the whole truth. So you should know: I actually murdered on the orders of Bardia Cambyses, killed these very hands, but the gods would send me for this terrible curse. Do not believe that the Bard - your king. You ruled Gaumata and his brother Patizif, Median magi . . . "The guards wanted to arrest Preksaspa, but it was too late - he jumped from the towers down . . .

Such was the glorious death Preksaspa.

This tragic event happened that day, when the seven Persian noblemen - Otan, Gobryas, Aspafin, Intafren, Gidarn, Megabyzus and Darius the Achaemenid - went to Susa with the firm intention to deal with the impostor. Arriving in the capital, the conspirators decided not to disperse and overnight at the home of Otan. Morning they offered sacrifices to the gods and with loyal servants went to the palace.

Palace guards respectfully parted and let them into the courtyard. After passing the area, Darius and his friends were at the entrance to the royal chambers. Here, except the guards, there were still several eunuchs who have been asking about the purpose of the visit Darius said that he had important news for the king, but he refused to skip to the governor. Then Darius snatched from under his coat and threw himself on the sword of the eunuchs. His example was followed by the other conspirators.

Darius shouted Otani and Gidarnu that they detained the guards and the servants. Himself with Gobryas, Intafrenom, Aspafinom and Megabyzus rushed on. At the door bedchamber conspirators entered into battle with four bodyguards. Megabyzus was wounded, while the others rushed into the royal chambers.

In the dim conspirators difference between the two magicians. Patizif just entered the bedroom to his brother through a secret door to announce the sudden attack.

Photo — «Coup Darius»

He grabbed the bow from the wall, but did not have time to use it. Gaumata same skillfully wielding a spear, Aspafina wounded in the thigh, and Intafrena - in the head. But Darius and Gobryas pounced on him, and after a few minutes with an impostor was finished.

Meanwhile Patizif ran into another room and tried to lock the door behind him, but Darius and Gobryas caught up with him. Together they have coped with the magician: Patizif was strangled Gobryas.

Conspirators magicians head chopped off and moved to the exit from the palace.

At the Palace Square, have gathered some two hundred Persians, attracted the noise of battle. The conspirators were ordered to convene to the palace of the Persians, who lived in Susa.

An hour later, the palace area was filled with people. Darius Gobryas, Otan and Gidarn (wounded Aspafin, Intafren and Megabyzus remained in the care of servants) went to the tower and showed the assembled heads of magicians. The Persians were delighted, and when Darius called to destroy the capital of the Median Magi, rushed to execute the order, but at the same time and destroy the rest of the Medes.

Pogroms Median house lasted all day and ended only with the onset of night. Were killed, hundreds of Medes. All magicians that have been found, executed. Subsequently, the Persians celebrated every year on this day, calling it a day "beating mages.

In September, 522 years BC Persian king was Darius.

At Behistun rock Darius immortalized the events at the beginning of his reign. Here, at high altitude, syllabic cuneiform writing was carved the inscription of 400 lines in Old Persian language and its translation in Elamite and Akkadian languages. Above the inscription sculptured relief depicting Darius, triumphant over related magician Gaumata and eight leaders of the rebel regions.