Ariobarzan
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Ariobarzan also spelled as Ario Barzan or Aryo Barzan was a great patriotic Iranian (Persian) commander. He fought to death against Alexander of Macedonia in the winter of 330/329 BC but couldn't stop him from invading, burning and destroying Persepolis, the Capital of Persian Empire at the time.
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[edit] Family
Ariobarzan, known as Ariobarzanes-II (Old Persian: Ariyabrdna-II) and also as Artabazus II, was a descendant of Pharnabazus, who was the son of an Iranian nobleman. In 387 BC, Pharnabazus was a Satrap[1] of Hellespontine Phrygia in Anatolia, (the northwest of present-day Turkey). It should be noted that Pharnabazus cultivated the friendship of Athens and Sparta and, about 366 BC, led an unsuccessful revolt of the satraps of western Anatolia against the Achamenian King Artaxerxes II (reigned 404-359 BC). Pharnabazus, however, maintained his friendship with the King, greatly complied with his commands, and preserved his position as a satrap until he died in 360 BC.
Out of the marriage of Pharnabazus and lady Apamea, Ariobarzanes I of Cius was born, who later also became a satrap. Ariobarzanes I was betrayed by his son, Mithridates I of Cius, and was crucified in 362 or 363 BC. Then, his half-brother, Artabazus, succeeded him. Artabazus (389-325 BC) was also an Iranian nobleman who had a respectable position in the court of Darius III Codomannus or D3C (reigned 336-330 BC), the last king of Achaemenid Dynasty. Ario Barzan was the son of this Artabazus.
[edit] Life
Though the exact birth-date of Ario Barzan is unknown, it is speculated that he was born around 368 BC. Any research work on the early life of Ario Barzan is a very complicated task and requires time and space. However, it is well documented that Ario Barzanwas the satrap of Persis (the southern province of Fars in present-day Iran) in 335 BC. For many researchers it is surprising that D3C had appointed a satrap for Persepolis and Persis. It seems that previously, this office did not exist, and it is possible that Darius III, who had come to power in a period of some social problems in Persia, needed a reliable man at home while he was away, fighting against the Ancient Macedonians at Issus (an ancient town close to present-day İskenderun in Turkey) in 333 BC, and at Gaugamela (a flat plain near ancient town of Tel-Gomel east of Mosul in northern part of present-day Iraq) in 331 BC. If this is correct, Ario Barzan must have been a close relative or a personal friend of King Darius. It is also speculated that the only reason for his appointment as the satrap of Persis was due to the fact that he was a very strong supporter of Darius.
[edit] Battles
As many historians documented, Iranians fought bravely at Issus and Gaugamela, but were unable to prevent Macedonian victories, and Alexander proceeded to Babylon and Susa in 331 BC. A Royal Road connected Susa (the first Iranian federal capital city in Elam) with the more eastern capitals of Persepolis and Pasargadae in Persis, and that was the road for Alexander to take. Meanwhile, King Darius was building a new army at Ecbatana (western province of Hamadan in present-day Iran). It was obvious that Alexander wanted to reach the treasures of Persepolis before Darius could defend them. Ario Barzan had to prevent the Macedonian attack on Persis, and had two advantages: in the first place, he commanded people who were defending their homes and were very motivated; in the second place, he knew the terrain and the topography of the place. There were only a few possible roads through the Zagros Mountains, which were at the time, in January 330, covered with snow and ice. And Ario Barzan knew how to exploit this.
When Alexander invaded an unknown country, he usually divided his forces to diminish the risks and facilitate the food supply. Ario Barzan must have learned from his spies that in the area of Masjed Soleyman, the Macedonian army had been split into two parts. Alexander's general, Parmenion, took one half along the Royal Road, and Alexander himself took the route towards Persis. Ario Barzan knew where he could trap his main opponent: in the Persian Gate (in Persian: Darvaazeh Fars), northeast of modern Yasuj (the capital of Kohkiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad Province in present-day Iran).[2] And if Ario Barzan could have defeated Alexander in that Gate, he could turn to the south and attack Parmenion as well.
Alexander first massacred a mountain tribe named Uxians, and believed that after this deed, everyone would flee.[3]Indeed, at the so-called Susian Gate, west of Yasuj, no one appeared to block the road. Believing that he would not encounter any problems in the Persian Gate either, Alexander forgot to send scouts into the pass and walked into Ario Barzan's trap with his eyes wide open.
The satrap had occupied a position near the little village that is now known as Cheshmeh Chenar. When one approaches this place from the west, the valley, called Tang'e Meyran, is initially very wide, so the Macedonians marched at some speed. But Ariobarzan knew what he was doing. After an hour's walk, the valley becomes narrower, and curves to the east-southeast, where the Macedonians were blinded by the morning sun. Immediately after they had crossed an icy brook, they would had to turn to the left, where Ario Barzan was ready to strike against an army that was standing on slippery ground, pushed forward by its rearguard, and under attack from all hilltops.
Some sources mention that Ario Barzan had built a wall across the canyon, but he probably did not have to. The Persian Gate was only a couple of meters wide. However this may be, at some point, the first group of Macedonian invaders must have realized that they could no longer advance, understood that they were ambushed, and hesitated. This was the moment Ario Barzan had been waiting for. One signal was sufficient to convert the valley into a killing zone. From the northern slope, the Iranians rained down boulders and stones on the Macedonians, who were smashed away not individually, but -as Quintus Curtius Rufus says- by entire platoons. From the southern slope, Persian archers and catapults launched their projectiles. The Macedonians panicked, tried to return, but were unable to do so, because their rear guard was still advancing. It must have taken some time before Alexander's men were in full retreat.
Ario Barzan knew that the battle was not over yet. It was likely that Alexander would try again next day, or would try to take another road. This, however, would be dangerous. From Yasuj, the Macedonians could go to the north, to Gabae (which is now called Isfahan or Espahan, a central province in present-day Iran)), where they would trap themselves between the army of Darius in Ecbatana and that of Ario Barzan in Persis. Alternatively, they could go to the south and join Parmenion, trapping themselves between Ario Barzan's army and another Iranian army existed there. Given these facts, the Persians had some reason to believe that their success could change the course of the war. Alexander could not move to the north or south, but would have to retreat or try for a second time. It is documented that Alexander considered all options and finally he decided to send a message to Ario Barzan offering him a position as a Field Marshal of the Greek army if Ario Barzan would surrender. Ario Barzan refused and declared that he would fight to death to protect Persia and his countrymen.
[edit] Death
After 48 days of fighting, an Iranian tribal chief, regrettably, betrayed his homeland and guided Alexander through the mountains to the rear of Ario Barzan's lines. That was how Alexander managed to defeat the Iranians and subjugate the Achaemenid Empire. It is reported that shortly after Alexander reached the rear of Ario Barzan's lines, the Iranian hero also became under attack from the north (by Philotas), and from the west (by Craterus). Many Iranians were massacred. Ario Barzan and his loyal army battled bravely against the invaders, but in the end returned to Persepolis, where the garrison commander refused to let him in, hoping to negotiate favorable terms with the Macedonian conquerors.
Alexander then reached the Palaces of Persepolis, and appointed a man named Phrasaortes as successor of ARB. Four months later, the Macedonians burned the historical Palaces of Persepolis down.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Satrap or Satrapes, derived from Old Persian xsatrapa, means the Protector of the Land, and it was the name given to the provincial governors in the ancient Achaemenid Empire. Darius I or Darius the Great (522-486 BC) established 20 satraps with an annual tribute. Appointed by the king, satraps were usually of the royal family or Iranian nobility and held office indefinitely. They collected taxes, were the highest judicial authority, and were responsible for internal security and for raising and maintaining an army. A satrap was assisted by a council of Iranian noblemen, to which also provincials were admitted; and was controlled by a royal secretary and by emissaries of the king, especially the Eyes of the King. After the fall of Achaemenid Empire, Greek Alexander and his successors retained the satraps.
- ^ For the identification, see Henry Speck, "Alexander at the Persian Gates. A Study in Historiography and Topography" in: American Journal of Ancient History n.s. 1.1 (2002) 15-234; more....
- ^ As the Encyclopedia Britannica notes, people of the western province of Khuzistan in present-day Iran, came from a region where Uxians lived, and Khuzi could have been derived from the term Uxi.
[edit] Original Reference
Aryo Barzan, First Iranian National Hero: A research note by Manouchehr Saadat Noury, based almost verbatim on the first article mentioned below.
[edit] External links
- Ariobarzanes: An Article by Jona Lendering.
- Pharnabazus, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2006.
- King Darius III: A Research Article on Darius-III Codomannus
- Gabae: The name of two places in Persia and Sogdiana.
- Persian Gates: Photos of the battlefield.
