Megabazus

Megabazus (Old Persian: Bagavazdā or Bagabāzu; ), son of Megabates, was a highly regarded Persian general under Darius, to whom he was a first-degree cousin. Most information about Megabazus comes from The Histories by Herodotus.

Scythian campaign (513 BC) Megabazus led the army of Persian King Darius I in 513 BC during his European Scythian campaign. After this campaign was discontinued without result, Megabazus remained commander-in-chief of an 80,000-man army in Europe with the mission of subjugating the Greek cities on the Hellespont. The Persian troops first subdued gold-rich Thrace after capturing Perinthos and the coastal Greek cities, then defeated the powerful Paeonians, many of whom he deported to Phrygia.

Subjugation of Macedon

Finally, Megabazus sent envoys to Amyntas I, king of Macedon, demanding acceptance of Persian domination, which the king accepted. Amyntas then acted as hyparch to Darius I.

Disagreements arose when members of the Persian delegation insulted the Macedonians by fraternising with their wives. The Macedonian prince Alexander I reacted by murdering several Persian diplomats and their followers. The conflict was later settled by the marriage of one of Megabazus's sons, Bubares, to the Macedonian princess Gygaia, a daughter of Amyntas.

Family According to Herodotus (Herodotus 6.33) Oebares was a son of Megabazus, and became satrap of Daskyleion (Hellespontine Phrygia) in 493 BC.

Sons Oebares: became satrap of Daskyleion c. 493 BC Bubares: managing engineer of the Athos Canal of Xerxes I Megabates: Achaemenid fleet commander and satrap of Daskyleion Pherendates: died c. 485 BC while satrap of Egypt.