Persian invasion of Cyrenaica
In 525 BC, the Persian Empire invaded Egypt, the oldest and most prestigious country in the ancient world. King of Cyrene, Arcesilaus III, allied with the Persians. After his death, the Persians took control of Cyrene: this was the beginning of Persian domination over Cyrenaica.
Historical context
During the reign of Battus III (550-530), Demonax implemented a series of reforms that aimed to make society more democratic by limiting the king's powers. While Battus III accepted these reforms, his son and successor Arcesilaus III (530-515) wanted to restore his royal powers. In 518, he demanded the restoration of all the powers that had been deprived of him by Demonax's reforms. He was supported by his mother, Beritima. The people rebelled and the king was forced to flee to the island of Samos with his mother.
During his stay on Samos, he recruited an army to help him regain power. He consulted the Oracle of Delphi, who told him he would succeed, but also warned him that if he was cruel to his subjects, his rule would not last long. He succeeded in regaining power in Cyrene and in exiling his opponents.
Fearing revenge, Cyrene left for the neighboring city of Cyrenaica (Al-Marj), leaving guardianship to his mother. Alazir, ruler of Cyrenaica, descended from a Libyan Amazigh tribe allied with the Cyrenians, was his father-in-law. One day, in the market of Cyrenaica, he will be recognized by a group of exiles from Cyrene, who kill him and Alazir.
A Libyan soldier in the Persian army
Persian invasion
After the death of Arcesilaus III, his mother Pyritima appealed to the Persian governor of Egypt to avenge him, claiming that he had been killed because of his loyalty to the Persians. The Persian army besieged Cyrenaica and deported its inhabitants, then entered Cyrene at the invitation of Berithima.
Beretima died shortly afterwards of a skin disease. The new king of Cyrene, Battus IV (515-465), as well as his son Arcesilaus IV (465-440) were agents of the Persian Empire. After the death of Arcesilaus IV, Cyrene became a republic under Persian sovereignty.
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