The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian/Book XI/Chapter XVIII

Chapter XVIII

 * The murder of Xerxes by Artabanus

AT the end of this year, Lysitheus was made chief governor of Athens, and Lucius Valerius Publicola and Titus Æmilius Mamercus, consuls of Rome. In their time Artabanus of Hyrcania, in great esteem with Xerxes, and captain of his guard, contrived to gain the kingdom by the murder of the king. He reveals his design to Mithridates the eunuch, one of the king's chamberlains, (whom he most confided in, as being his nearest kinsman, and whom he had obliged by many instances of his favour). Mithridates presently complies with him, and brings Artaxerxes privately in the night into the bedchamber, and being entered, without delay murders the king: and in the heat of the fact runs to the king's sons,  two of whom, Darius the eldest, and Artaxerxes, were then at court: Hytaspes, the third, at that time was governor of Bactria. Artabanus, in the dead of the night, hastens to Artaxerxes, and tells him that Darius had murdered his father to come to the crown: and therefore persuades Artaxerxes that he should not slothfully suffer his brother to settle himself on the throne, but revenge his father's death, and take upon himself the sovereignty; for the effecting whereof, he promised to bring in the king's guard to his assistance. Artaxerxes was easily persuaded, and, with the assistance of the guards, kills his brother. Artabanus seeing his treachery succeed according to his heart's desire, now boasts before all his sons that the time was come for his advancement to the kingdom, and forthwith comes to Artaxerxes with his sword drawn, and wounds him. The king not being much hurt, bravely defends himself, and kills Artabanus upon the place. Having thus not only preserved himself, but revenged the murder of his father, he was established in the house of Persia. This was the end of Xerxes, after he had reigned twenty years. But his successor continued forty-four.