Derbices
Encyclopedia
Derbices or Derbikes were a small pocket of tribial people located at or around Hyrcania
, which is an area located in the northern borders of the Iranian Plateau. Most of what history can recount of this tribe is from the writings of Ctesias
. Led by their leader, Amoraeus, Derbices led a rebellion against Cyrus the Great
causing the mortal wounding of the king. They are however eventually defeated by Cyrus and incorporated into the Persian Empire. It is critical to note that the account of Derbices is basically the work of Ctesias
and offers one of the plausible versions by which Cyrus the Great is killed. Other plausible accounts include that of Herodotus
which revolves around the Massagatae, and various other versions including one by Xenophon
which states Cyrus the Great actually died peacefully at his palace. Regardless, this article (and Derbices by association) makes sense in the context of historical reportings of Ctesias, which according to at least a few historians is the most credible version (along with that of Herodotus) since "...he [Cteias] had been a long while in Persia as a doctor."
and were part of the Persian satrapy of Hyrcania. Influenced by Indian
tribes, they raised in revolt against Cyrus. In retaliation, Cyrus would march with his army north to meet them in battle and to subdue the rebellion.
Militarilly, the Derbices were equipped with elephants supplied by the Indians
, as well as a large, well-stocked Indian cavalry stationed at Hyrcania, awaiting the coming of the Persian army led by Cyrus the Great. As Cyrus approached Gilan and Mazandaran (Hyrcania), he and his Persian army are ambushed by both Indian, and Derbices soldiers. In the heat of the battle, an Indian soldier pushes Cyrus the Great off his horse, and mortally wounds him in the leg (in the thigh) with a javelin. The Indian soldier however is soon slain by a small group of Persian soldiers who crowd Cyrus the Great, carrying him to safety while still alive. The remainder of the Persian army fights the insurgents in one of the bloodiest battles in the history of Oxus, leading to some 10,000 casualties on each side.
Amorges
a Persian general, once hearing of what has transpired, hastily comes to aid the king with an army of 20,000 Sacan soldiers. In what pursues the Persians and the Sacae gain the upper hand, and slain the Derbrices' king Amoraeus, and his two sons. Some 30,000 Derbices and Indians fall, as do 9,000 Persians in the battle. After the battle Derbices surrenders full control to the Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great, now mortally wounded and in care of his troops, appoints Spitaces the new satrap of Hycrania. It is said that on his death bed, Cyrus urges Spitaces, to obey and respect him mother Spitamas, and also appoints his son Cambyses II of Persia to be the legitimate king of the empire, and his younger brother Bardiya
to be the governor of Parthia
, Choramnia
, Bactria
, and Carmania
. Cyrus the Great would die three days later from complications of the thigh injury, after some thirty years of kingship.
Hyrcania
Hyrcania was the name of a satrapy located in the territories of present day Gilan, Golestan, Mazandaran and part of Turkmenistan, lands south of the Caspian Sea. To the Greeks, the Caspian Sea was the "Hyrcanian Sea".-Etymology:...
, which is an area located in the northern borders of the Iranian Plateau. Most of what history can recount of this tribe is from the writings of Ctesias
Ctesias
Ctesias of Cnidus was a Greek physician and historian from Cnidus in Caria. Ctesias, who lived in the 5th century BC, was physician to Artaxerxes Mnemon, whom he accompanied in 401 BC on his expedition against his brother Cyrus the Younger....
. Led by their leader, Amoraeus, Derbices led a rebellion against Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus II of Persia , commonly known as Cyrus the Great, also known as Cyrus the Elder, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Under his rule, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Southwest Asia and much...
causing the mortal wounding of the king. They are however eventually defeated by Cyrus and incorporated into the Persian Empire. It is critical to note that the account of Derbices is basically the work of Ctesias
Ctesias
Ctesias of Cnidus was a Greek physician and historian from Cnidus in Caria. Ctesias, who lived in the 5th century BC, was physician to Artaxerxes Mnemon, whom he accompanied in 401 BC on his expedition against his brother Cyrus the Younger....
and offers one of the plausible versions by which Cyrus the Great is killed. Other plausible accounts include that of Herodotus
Herodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
which revolves around the Massagatae, and various other versions including one by Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
which states Cyrus the Great actually died peacefully at his palace. Regardless, this article (and Derbices by association) makes sense in the context of historical reportings of Ctesias, which according to at least a few historians is the most credible version (along with that of Herodotus) since "...he [Cteias] had been a long while in Persia as a doctor."
Background
Derbices were originally a small population cluster with some control over the area south of Caspian SeaCaspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
and were part of the Persian satrapy of Hyrcania. Influenced by Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
tribes, they raised in revolt against Cyrus. In retaliation, Cyrus would march with his army north to meet them in battle and to subdue the rebellion.
Militarilly, the Derbices were equipped with elephants supplied by the Indians
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
, as well as a large, well-stocked Indian cavalry stationed at Hyrcania, awaiting the coming of the Persian army led by Cyrus the Great. As Cyrus approached Gilan and Mazandaran (Hyrcania), he and his Persian army are ambushed by both Indian, and Derbices soldiers. In the heat of the battle, an Indian soldier pushes Cyrus the Great off his horse, and mortally wounds him in the leg (in the thigh) with a javelin. The Indian soldier however is soon slain by a small group of Persian soldiers who crowd Cyrus the Great, carrying him to safety while still alive. The remainder of the Persian army fights the insurgents in one of the bloodiest battles in the history of Oxus, leading to some 10,000 casualties on each side.
Amorges
Amorges
Amorges , son of the Persian satrap Pissouthnes , was the leader of a Carian rebellion in 413 BC. He was captured by Tissaphernes and executed in 412 BC.- Sources :* Andocides, .* Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War VIII 5, 19, 28, 54....
a Persian general, once hearing of what has transpired, hastily comes to aid the king with an army of 20,000 Sacan soldiers. In what pursues the Persians and the Sacae gain the upper hand, and slain the Derbrices' king Amoraeus, and his two sons. Some 30,000 Derbices and Indians fall, as do 9,000 Persians in the battle. After the battle Derbices surrenders full control to the Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great, now mortally wounded and in care of his troops, appoints Spitaces the new satrap of Hycrania. It is said that on his death bed, Cyrus urges Spitaces, to obey and respect him mother Spitamas, and also appoints his son Cambyses II of Persia to be the legitimate king of the empire, and his younger brother Bardiya
Bardiya
Bardiya was a son of Cyrus the Great and the younger brother of Cambyses II, both Persian kings. There are sharply divided views on his life, he may have ruled the Achaemenid Empire for a few months in 522 BCE, or he may have been impersonated by a magus called Gaumata. -Name and sources:The...
to be the governor of Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
, Choramnia
Chorasmia (satrapy)
Chorasmia was a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire. Chorasmia had become part of the Achaemenid Empire before 522, and it seems to have been ruled by the satrap of Parthia. By the time of Darius III, it had become an independent kingdom. Its king, Pharasmanes concluded a peace treat with Alexander...
, Bactria
Bactria (satrapy)
Bactria was a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire under the reign of Cyrus the Great. Although the first mention of Bactria comes in 520 BCE at the Behistun inscription. Bactria was a special satrapy in that it was ruled by a crown prince or an intended heir. The capital of Bactria was Bactra, and the...
, and Carmania
Carmania (satrapy)
Carmania was a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire as well as, later on, the Sassanid Empire. The region is approximately equal to that of modern day Kermān Province in Iran. Little is known about the exact boundaries of ancient Carmania, which may have fluctuated...
. Cyrus the Great would die three days later from complications of the thigh injury, after some thirty years of kingship.