Tristan Hughes

What does the Persian world look like in the early 5th century BC, just before Xerxes takes the throne?

We've covered in a previous episode.

It is an amazing set-the-scene moment, isn't it?

Darius...

He doesn't just leave one son, does he?

No.

There always seems to be a bit of a succession crisis as the Persian Empire goes on.

So this idea of not having a favourite today is very much out the window with the Persian case.

It's good.

to mention that as well.

I mean, so Darius dies in the mid 480s.

That's great.

Right, yes.

And Iona are the Greeks, are they?

I was going to ask, do we know anything about his relationship with all of these half-brothers?

And is that how Xerxes portrays himself during this period?

You know, this idea that he's a young, active, energetic ruler.

Yes, the great old Darius is dead, but rejoice, we've got a young, new ruler on the throne now and he's going to continue it.

No, it seems like he really does succeed in that potentially troublesome, immediate years taking the throne in that succession time.

During that time, do we know who was closest to him?