Xerxes I

~518–465 BCE · Persian (Achaemenid Empire) · Ancient Persia, Iron Age

Known for: Invaded Greece with the largest army the ancient world had seen—and lost

Xerxes inherited his father Darius's grudge against Greece and assembled the largest invasion force the ancient world had ever seen—reportedly over a million men (likely 100,000-300,000 in reality). He bridged the Hellespont with boats and cut a canal through a peninsula to avoid a dangerous cape.

He defeated the Spartans at Thermopylae (the '300' battle) but was crushed at the naval Battle of Salamis and withdrew, leaving his general Mardonius to be defeated at Plataea. The Greek campaign was a catastrophic failure that began Persia's long decline.

He's remembered in the West primarily through Greek sources that portrayed him as a decadent tyrant who whipped the sea when a storm destroyed his bridge. He was assassinated by his own bodyguard commander.

Browse all 1,000 figures by category

Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.