Artaphernes

Artaphernes
Hero information
Introduced in	Chronicles: Battle for Greece
Hero type	Mounted archer
Statistics
Hit points	280
Regeneration	30 hit points per minute
Pierce attack	12
Attack bonus	+6 vs. Spearman
Reload time	2
Attack delay	0.89
Range	5
Accuracy	80%
Projectile speed	7
Melee armor	2
Pierce armor	1
Armor class	Archer Cavalry (+10) Cavalry Archer
Speed	1.40
Line of Sight	6
Ability	Cannot be converted

“	I swear by Mithra, once I have extinguished this blaze, I will hunt you down, Aristagoras, and I shall tear out your lying tongue	”
—Dialogue in A City Ablaze

Artaphernes is a mounted archer hero in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Chronicles: Battle for Greece. He has a unique model. As a hero, he cannot be converted and can regenerate health.

Campaign appearances

He is the protagonist in the first act (barring its last scenario) of the Battle for Greece campaign.

Battle for Greece

• Gates of the Gods: Artaphernes is tasked by Darius with bringing the supplies and paying off the mercenaries. After the wall of Babylon is breached, he and Datis will lead the invasion of the city.
• Greeks Bearing Gifts: Artaphernes prepares the invasion of Naxos by securing the supplies sent from Persia for the invasion.
• The Ionian Revolt: Artaphernes faces the rebellion lead by Aristagoras and must maintain Persian control over the outlying Ionian towns, before striking back at Aristagoras.
• A City Ablaze: Artaphernes leads the defense of Sardis, driving back the Ionian besiegers under Aristagoras.
• Chasing Smoke: Artaphernes chases down Aristagoras' pillagers on their retreat to Ephesus. After ambushing the Ionians, he will besiege Ephesus in an attempt to hunt down Aristagoras.
• Death to Traitors: Artaphernes leads the invasion of Miletus, besieging the city and finally killing Aristagoras.
• Earth and Water: Artaphernes briefly appears to see Datis before the latter invades the Cyclades.

History

Artaphernes was a prominent Persian noble and satrap of Lydia under the Achaemenid Empire during the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC. He was the half-brother of King Darius I, and reorganized the region by implementing fairer taxation and administrative reforms, stabilizing Persian rule in the area. He played a key role in suppressing the Ionian Revolt (499–493 BC), a rebellion of the Greek city-states in Persian territory led by Aristagoras. He then collaborated with the Median general Datis in the first Persian invasion of Greece, which culminated in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC).

Gallery

Many views of Artaphernes

Artaphernes putting out the fires after the Greeks raided Sardis and left it burning

Artaphernes besieging and defeating the Greeks at Ephesus