A satrap (Greek: σατράπης, romanized: satrápes) was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Macedonian Empire.
A satrap served as a viceroy to the king, though with considerable autonomy. The word came to suggest tyranny or ostentatious splendour, and its modern usage is a pejorative and refers to any subordinate or local ruler, usually with unfavourable connotations of corruption.
A satrapy is the territory governed by a satrap. Ancient Egypt twice became a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire; first as the 27th Dynasty (525-404 BC), and second as the 31st Dynasty (343-332 BC). After the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great, it remained a satrapy of the Argead Dynasty (332-309 BC).
Satraps of Egypt[]
| Satrap | Rule | Dynasty | Reigning monarch | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryandes | 525–522 BC; 518–c. 496 BC |
27th Dynasty | Cambyses II, Darius I | Installed after Cambyses II conquered Egypt. Deposed following a revolt in 522 BC, later restored in 518 BC then deposed again by Darius I. |
| Pherendates I | c. 496–c.486 BC | 27th Dynasty | Darius I, Xerxes I, | Possibly killed during a revolt. |
| Achaemenes | c. 486–459 BC | 27th Dynasty | Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I | A brother of Xerxes I, later killed by the rebel Inaros II. |
| Arsames | c. 454–410 BC; c. 406-404 BC |
27th Dynasty | Artaxerxes I, Xerxes II, Darius II | Longest ruling satrap of Egypt. |
| Artabantes | c. 410–c. 406 BC | 27th Dynasty | Darius II | Probably acted as satrap of Egypt ad interim when Arsames was called back to Persia. |
| Pherendates II | 343–335 BC[1] | 31st Dynasty | Artaxerxes III | |
| Sabaces | 335-333 BC[1] | 31st Dynasty | Darius III | Killed in the Battle of Issus. |
| Mazaces | 333–332 BC[1] | 31st Dynasty | Darius III | Surrendered to Alexander the Great. |
| Cleomenes | 332 BC – 13 June 323 BC[1] | Argead Dynasty | Alexander the Great | Installed after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. |
| Ptolemy | 13 June 323 BC – 305 BC | Argead Dynasty | Philip III, Alexander IV | Installed after the death of Alexander the Great. After the Argead Dynasty went extinct, Ptolemy became Pharaoh and founder of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. |
References[]
Bibliography[]
- Stewart, J., 2006: African States and Rulers (Third ed.). McFarland, London.