He came to power by killing the usurper Gautama, also known as Smerdis, in a coup which he recounted in the Behistun Inscription.
He came to power by killing the usurper Gautama, also known as Smerdis, in a coup which he recounted in the Behistun Inscription. He divided his empire into twenty provinces, each under the command of a satrap. He also built a road from Susa to his new capital, which replaced the former dynastic capital at Pasargadae. During his rule, he successfully put down rebellions in Sugartia and Susiana and waged war against the Scythians, but he was defeated in 490 B.C. by revolting Ionian city-states in the Battle of Marathon. FTP, name this Persian king who was succeeded by Xerxes I.
He came to power by killing the usurper Gautama, also known as Smerdis, in a coup which he recounted in the Behistun Inscription.
Darius I [or Darius the Great; prompt on Darius]