People > Oxyartes

Oxyartes

Background

Oxyartes was a notable figure during the time of Alexander the Great, primarily known for his role as a Bactrian noble and the father of Roxana, Alexander's wife. His relationship with Alexander and his involvement in the latter's campaigns highlight the complex dynamics between the Macedonian conqueror and the local nobility of the regions he subdued. Here is a detailed overview of Oxyartes:

Background

• Bactrian Nobility: Oxyartes was a nobleman from Bactria, a region in Central Asia that corresponds to modern-day Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Bactria was known for its strategic location and its resistance to foreign domination.
• Political Landscape: At the time of Alexander's invasion, Bactria was part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire but was known for its strong local leadership and resistance to external control.

Interaction with Alexander the Great

• Siege of the Sogdian Rock: Oxyartes is most famously associated with the fortress known as the Sogdian Rock. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great laid siege to this seemingly impregnable stronghold where Oxyartes had taken refuge with his family, including his daughter Roxana.
• Surrender and Alliance: After a dramatic and difficult siege, Alexander managed to capture the fortress. Following this, Oxyartes chose to ally himself with Alexander. As part of solidifying this alliance, Alexander married Oxyartes' daughter, Roxana, in a politically motivated union that also helped to legitimize Alexander's rule in the region.

Role and Influence

• Father-in-Law to Alexander: Through Roxana's marriage to Alexander, Oxyartes gained significant standing and influence within Alexander's newly established order in the East. This marriage was a symbolic gesture that aimed to bridge the cultural and political divide between the Macedonian conquerors and the local populations.
• Governorship: After the marriage, Alexander appointed Oxyartes as the satrap (governor) of the region of Paropamisadae (in modern Afghanistan). This appointment not only rewarded Oxyartes for his allegiance but also ensured that a trusted and cooperative local leader was in charge of an important territory.

Later Life and Legacy

• Roxana and the Succession Crisis: After Alexander's death in 323 BC, Roxana bore Alexander's posthumous son, Alexander IV. The subsequent power struggles and the eventual murder of both Roxana and her son by Cassander marked a tumultuous period. Oxyartes’ fate during and after these events is not well-documented, but his legacy is closely tied to the larger narrative of Alexander's empire and its fragmentation.
• Historical Significance: Oxyartes' willingness to ally with Alexander and his subsequent role as a satrap reflect the broader strategies of integration and local governance employed by Alexander. His family's connection to Alexander through marriage underscores the complex interplay of politics, culture, and power in the Hellenistic world.

Conclusion

Oxyartes of Bactria played a crucial role in the latter stages of Alexander the Great's campaigns. His initial resistance, followed by his strategic alliance with Alexander, highlights the adaptability and political acumen of local leaders during this period. Through his daughter Roxana's marriage to Alexander, Oxyartes became a key figure in the integration of the Bactrian region into Alexander's empire. His story exemplifies the fusion of Macedonian and local elements that characterized much of Alexander's approach to governance and control in his vast empire.

Sources

Ahmed, S. Z. (2004), Chaghatai: the Fabulous Cities and People of the Silk Road, West Conshokoken: Infinity Publishing, p. 61.

Strachan, Edward and Roy Bolton (2008), Russia and Europe in the Nineteenth Century, London: Sphinx Fine Art, p. 87, ISBN 978-1-907200-02-1.

Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri, iii. 28

Arrian, iv. 18-20; Curtius Rufus, Historiae Alexandri Magni, viii. 4; Strabo, Geography, xi. 11; Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Alexander", 47

Arrian, iv. 21, vi. 15; Curtius, ix. 8; Plutarch, 58

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca, xviii. 3, 39; Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, xiii. 4; Photius, Bibliotheca, cod. 82, cod. 92

Diodorus, xix. 14, 48

Strabo, xv. 2

Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Oxyartes (2)". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

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