Xerxes I

Xerxes I, also known as Xerxes the Great, was the fourth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire. Born to Darius I and Atossa (daughter of Cyrus the Great), he inherited the world's largest empire at the time. His reign was marked by ambitious military campaigns, massive construction projects, and the continuation of Persian imperial expansion. Xerxes is best known for his massive invasion of Greece, which included the famous Battle of Thermopylae and the burning of Athens. Despite initial successes, his Greek campaign ultimately failed. Beyond his military endeavors, Xerxes was a prolific builder who completed many architectural projects started by his father, including the Gate of All Nations and the Hall of a Hundred Columns at Persepolis. He maintained the efficient administrative system established by his predecessors and continued the tradition of religious tolerance within the empire. Xerxes was assassinated in -465 BCE by Artabanus, the commander of the royal bodyguard, in a palace conspiracy.