Artaxerxes III

Artaxerxes III was born Ochus, son of Artaxerxes II and Stateira, and served as satrap and army commander before a blood-soaked succession in 359/58 BC: one brother executed, another dead by suicide, a third murdered, and then his father gone. He took the throne and immediately killed every remaining member of the royal family to secure it. His first campaign against Egypt failed and triggered rebellions across the empire's western reaches, but the second invasion succeeded - he defeated Pharaoh Nectanebo II and returned Egypt to Persian rule after six decades. In his later years he opposed Philip II of Macedon's efforts to stir Greek revolt, backing Perinthus during its siege, and launched renewed construction at Persepolis: a new palace, his own tomb, the Unfinished Gate. His assassination ended those projects and any chance of revival; the empire soon fell to Alexander.