Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

426 '* BRAVEST OF THE PERSIANS."reap the benefit, if any, of his violent death. By pitilesslyfollowing up the murderers, he could appeal to the feelingsof the Persians. No other had a perfect right to the Persianthrone ; Alexander had possession of it ; and, except that helacked the legal title,was the most promising monarch Persiahad seen since Cyrus.Alexander sent the body of Darius to Persepolis, — somesay to his mother Sisygambis, who was at Susa, — and gave itmost royal burial with all the pomp and circimfistance usualwith Persian kings. He continued to treat his family withthe utmost distinction, for he felt honest commiseration forthe misfortunes of his brother king.Darius, last of the Achaemenidae, was of a character tomake a good king, but a poor soldier. He was personallybrave. Diodorus tells us that, under King Ochus, Dariusfought a Caducian champion in single combat, and killed him,thus earning the name of " Bravest of the Persians." Buthe lacked moral endurance and equipoise. He had broughthis fate on himself. His reign had been unfortunate. Comingto the throne in B. C. 336, he was soon involved in warwith Greece and Macedon, and his royal career opened almostwith the defeat at the Granicus. Darius was about fifty whenhe died, — a fugitive among traitors, a king in chains.Alexander appointed Amminaspes, a Parthian, who hadsurrendered with Mazaces in Egypt, viceroy over the Parthiausand Hyrcanians, and associated with him Tlepolemus,a Companion, as general.