Darius III

Darius III was the last Achaemenid king of Persia and lost his empire to Alexander in four years. Born around 380 BC as Artashata, he was a distant member of the royal house, a satrap of Armenia, and is said to have made his name in single combat against a Cadusian champion. He came to the throne in 336 BC after the eunuch Bagoas had poisoned two previous kings and attempted to poison him; Darius is reported to have made him drink the cup himself. Alexander crossed into Asia within months of his accession. He was not present at the Granicus in 334 BC, where a satrapal army was destroyed. He commanded in person at Issus in 333 BC, choosing to fight in a narrow coastal plain where his numbers could not be deployed, and left the field when Alexander's cavalry drove at his position — abandoning his mother, wife and children, whom Alexander treated with conspicuous courtesy. He offered terms twice, eventually ceding all territory west of the Euphrates and a very large ransom. Parmenion is said to have remarked that he would accept if he were Alexander, and to have been told that he would too, if he were Parmenion. At Gaugamela in 331 BC he chose level ground, cleared it for scythed chariots, and had far greater numbers. Alexander drew the Persian left outward, opened a gap, and drove at the centre. Darius fled again. He was arrested by his own satrap Bessus and stabbed as Alexander closed on them in 330 BC. Alexander sent the body for royal burial.

• Lived: 380 BCE – 330 BCE
• Nationality: Persian
• Roles: ruler, general