The history of the world

§. IIII. The estate of the Medes and Persians in times fore-going this great Warre.

FOr it is commonly agreed vpon, that Achaemenes the sonne of Perses [unspec 40] being Gouernour of Persia, did associate himselfe with Arbaces, who commanded in Media in that rebellion against Sardanapalus, and that each of them after the victorie obtained, held for himselfe the Domi∣nion of those Countries, which he had formerly ruled for the Assyri∣ans; as also that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ouer the same honor and power to their posteritie; which in Media was not absolutely Regall, but with some restraint limited, vntill such time as Deioces tooke vpon him the full authoritie and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a King. From the death of Sardanapalus to the raigne of Deioces, are vsually accounted about an hundred and forty yeeres, in the last sixtie whereof there raigned in Assyria mightie Princes, namely Salmanasser and his Successours, whose great atchiuements in Syria [unspec 50] and elsewhere witnesse, that the Medes and Persians found it not for their aduantage to vnder-take any offensiue warre against those victorious Kings, it being also pro∣bable that the league continued as yet betweene these the successours of Belochus, and Arbaces, who had formerly shared the Empire.

Now from the beginning of Deioces to the first of Astyages, therepast aboue ninetie yeeres, in which if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue written truely, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conquered Persia, and how he and other the Kings of Media by many victories greatly en∣larged their dominions, and commaunded many parts of Asia, it had beene but an vnaduised enterprise of the Assyrians and Babylonians, to haue wasted themselues a∣gainst the Syrians and Aegyptians, leauing so able and victorious a Nation on their backes. But that the Medes had done nothing vpon the South parts of Persia, and that the Persians themselues were not masters of Susiana in Nabuchodonosors time, it is manifest in Daniel, who was then Gouernour for the Babylonian in Susa or Susan, the chiefe Citie thereof. It is true indeed, that the Medians, either vnder Cyaxares [unspec 10] or Astiages, or both, had quarrell with Halyattes the father of Croesus, which after some sixe yeeres dispute was compounded.

How the affaires of Persia stood in so many ages, I doe not find any memorie. It seemeth that the roughnesse of the mountainous Countrey which they then pos∣sest, with the confederacie which they continued with the Medes, gaue them more securitie than 〈◊〉〈◊〉: For if their Kings, being the posteritie of Achaemenes; had done any memorable acts, the greatnesse which they afterward obtained would not haue suffered any forgetfulnesse thereof. But as we find all Xenophons reports, both of these Warres and the state of those Countries to be very conso∣nant and agreeable to the relation of many other good Authors, so it appeares, [unspec 20] that the race of Achaemenes held the Principalitie of Persia from father to sonne for many descents. And therefore we may better giue credit to Xenophon, who affir∣meth, That Cambyses the father of Cyrus was King of Persia: than to those that make him a meane man, and say, that Astiages gaue him his daughter Mandane in marriage, to the end that her sonne (whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he feared) might be disabled from any great vndertaking by his fathers ignobilitie.

For what cause of griefe could it be to Astiages, that the sonne of his daughter should become Lord of the best part of Asia? No; it was more likely, that vpon such a Prophecie his loue to his grand-child should haue encreased, and his care beene the greater to haue married her to some Prince of strength and eminent [unspec 30] vertue.

Yea, the same Herodotus, who is the first Author, and as I thinke the deuiser of the mischiefe intended against Cyrus by his grandfather, doth confesse, That the line of the Achaemenidae was so renowned, that the great King Xerxes in the height of his prosperitie did thence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himselfe, and vaunt of it: which he would ne∣uer haue done, had they beene ignoble, nor had they been the vassals of any other King or Monarch.

For in this sort Xerxes in the seuenth of Herodotus deriueth himselfe.

• Achaemenes. [unspec 40]
• Cambyses.
• Cyrus.
• Teispeus.
• Ariaramnes.
• Arsamnes.
• Hystaspes.
• Darius.
• Xerxes.

Of the Achaemenidae there were two races: of the first was Cyrus the great, whose [unspec 50] issue male fayled in his two sonnes, Cambyses and Smerdis. This royall familie is thus set downe by the learned Reineccius.

• Achaemenes, the sonne of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, first King of Persia.
• ...Darius.
• Cyrus, the first of that name, had Cambyses and Atossa, who, mar∣ried to Pharnaces, King of Cappadocia, had Artystona and other daughters.
• Cambyses had
• Cyrus the Great, Cyrus had
• Cambyses, who succeeded him, and Smerdis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by his brother Cambyses.

Of the second were those seuen great Princes of Persia, who hauing ouerthrowne [unspec 10] the vsurped 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Magi, chose from among themselues Darius the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Hystaspes King.

This Kingdome of Persia was first knowne by the name of Elam, so called after Elam the sonne of Sem, and the people therein 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Elamitae; by Elianus, Ely∣mae; by Iosephus, Elymi.

Suidas deriues this Nation sometimes from Assur, sometime from Magog, of whom they were called Magusaei; which Magusaei, according to Eusebius, are not to be taken for the Nation in generall, but for those who were afterward called the Magi or Wise men. So doe the Greekes, among many other their sayings of them, [unspec 20] affirme, That the Persians were anciently written Artaei, and that they called them∣selues Cephenes. But that they were Elamitae, Moses and the Prophets, Esay, Ieremie, Ezechiel, Daniel, and Esdras in many places confirme: Which also S. Hierome vpon Ieremie the fiue and twentieth, vpon Daniel the eight and twentieth, and in his He∣brew questions approueth, saying: Elam à quo Elamitae Principes Persidis; ELAM, of whom were the Elamites Princes of Persia.

And that Citie which the Author of the second booke of the Maccabees cal∣leth Persepolis, is by the Author of the first called Elimais, but is now called Siras, being the same which Antiochus, for the great riches thereof, twice attempted in vaine, and to his great dishonour. And yet this Citie, now called Siras, was not the [unspec 30] old Persepolis; for Alexander, at the request of Thais the Harlot, burnt it.

The first King of Persia to vs knowne, if wee follow the current of Au∣thors interpreting the foureteenth chapter of Genesis, was Che∣dorlaomer, who liued with Amraphel or Ninias, and ioyned with him in the warre against those Arabians, who was afterward ex∣tinguished by the forces of Abraham. [unspec 40] [unspec 50]

Notes

• Euseb l. 6. c. 8. d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Euan 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Gen. 10.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11. 21, 22.
• Iere. 25. & 29.
• Ezecb. 32.
• Dan. 8.
• Esd. 4.
• 2. Mac. 9.
• 1. Mac. 6.
• Gen. 10.