Tissaphernes (Pers. Cithrafarna, d. 395 BC) was a Persian soldier and statesman, grandson of Hydarnes.
In 413 BC he was satrap of Lydia and Caria, and commander in chief of the Persian army in Asia Minor. When Darius II ordered the collection of the
outstanding tribute of the Greek cities, he entered into an alliance with Sparta against
Athens, which in 412 led to the conquest of the greater part of Ionia. But Tissaphernes was unwilling to take action and tried to achieve his aim by astute and often perfidious
negotiations; Alcibiades persuaded him that Persia's best policy was to keep the balance
between Athens and Sparta, and rivalry with his neighbour Pharnabazus of Hellespontic
Phrygia still further lessened his energy. When, therefore, in 408 the king decided to support
Sparta strenuously, Tissaphernes was removed from the generalship and limited to the satrapy of Caria, whereas Lydia and the
conduct of the war were entrusted to Cyrus the Younger.
On the downfall of Athens, Cyrus and Tissaphernes both claimed jurisdiction over the Ionian cities, most of which acknowledged
Cyrus as their ruler; but Tissaphernes took possession of Miletus, where he was attacked by Cyrus, who gathered an army under
this pretence with the purpose of using it against his brother Artaxerxes II.
The king was warned by Tissaphernes, who took part in the battle of Cunaxa, and
afterwards tried to destroy the Greek mercenaries of Cyrus by treachery.
He was then sent back to Asia Minor to his old position as general in chief and satrap of Lydia and Caria. He now attacked the
Greek cities, to punish them for their allegiance to Cyrus. This led to the war with Sparta in 399. Tissaphernes, who once again
had recourse to subtle diplomacy, was beaten by Agesilaus II on the Pactolus near
Sardis (395); and at last the king yielded to the representations of Pharnabazus, strongly
supported by the chiliarch (vizier) Tithraustes and by the queen-mother
Parysatis, who hated Tissaphernes as the principal cause of the death of her favourite son
Cyrus. Tithraustes was sent to execute Tissaphernes, who was lured to Colossae and slain in
395.
References
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
