Achaemenid Civil War (522–520 BC)

Achaemenid Civil War (522-520 BC)
The Behistun Inscription, carved into a cliffside, details the military actions of the civil war.
Date 522 BCE – 520 BCE Location Achaemenid Empire Result Victory for Darius
Belligerents
Achaemenid Empire (Darius' faction)	Achaemenid Empire (Bardiya or Gaumata)
	Rebelling provinces: Elam Persis Media Assyria Babylonia Egypt Parthia Armenia Margiana Sattagydia Sagartia Hyrcania Scythia
Commanders and leaders
Darius the Great Hystaspes Intaphrenes Otanes Gobryas Hydarnes Megabyzus Aspathines Dadarsi Vahumisa Takhmaspada Artavardiya Vivana	Bardiya or Gaumata Patizeithes Nebuchadnezzar III Açina Martiya Phraortes Tritantaechmes Frada Vahyazdata Arakha Atamaita
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

Between 522 and 520 BCE, a large scale civil war broke out within the Achaemenid Empire over the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Achaemenid King of Kings Bardiya and the ascension to the throne of Darius the Great.

Bibliography

• Briant, Pierre (2002). From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire. Eisenbrauns. pp. 1–1196. ISBN 978-1-57506-120-7.