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- In 523 BC, message arrived
that back in Persia, in the Persian capital of Ekbatana, King
Kambyses' brother Bardiya (Herodotos calls him Smerdis) has overthrown
Kambyses' rule.
But Kambyses knew that Bardiya was dead, and went back to Ekbatana
to punish the usurper. However, he died in a Syrian town also
called Ekbatana in 522 BC.
Darius, now 28, returned to his homeland Persia in the Summer
of 522 BC. There, he met his father and his grandfather Arsames,
but both were unable to help Darius. He then travelled to Ecbatana
in Media to meet 6 old friends, who formed an organization against
Bardiya.
The 7 rebels travelled to Ecbatana and found Bardiya. At first,
it seemed like a simple audience. Since all 7 were Persian aristocrats
of the chivalric order of the Achaemenid family, Bardiya let
them in.
It did not take long until the 7 rebels killed Bardiya and all
of his staff.
Then Darius and his friends travelled to Pasargadai, where he
was crowned king of Persia.
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