 According to Herodotus, Hystaspes was the satrap of Persis, although the French Iranologist Pierre Briant states that this is an error.Also according to Herodotus (III.139), Darius, prior to seizing power and "of no consequence at the time", had served as a spearman ("doryphoros") in the Egyptian campaign (528–525 BCE) of Cambyses II, then the Persian Great King; this is often interpreted to mean he was the king's personal spear-carrier, an important role.Hystaspes was an officer in Cyrus' army and a noble of his court.