Gaumata Overthrown by Darius the Great

Gaumata, a magus, rose to power by impersonating Bardiya, the brother of Cambyses II, which led to a significant upheaval in the Persian Empire. His rule lasted for a brief period of seven months, during which he incited a revolution that challenged the existing order. Cambyses, who was in Egypt at the time, received news of the revolt and attempted to return to Persia. However, he suffered a severe injury in Syria, which ultimately led to his death from gangrene. This power vacuum allowed Gaumata to establish himself as king, but his reign was marked by instability and dissent. Darius the Great, a member of the Achaemenid dynasty, eventually overthrew Gaumata, restoring order to the empire. Darius's account of these events is documented in the Behistun Inscription, which serves as a crucial historical source for understanding this period of Persian history. The overthrow of Gaumata did not eliminate the threat posed by the Magi, as a year later, another individual claiming to be Smerdis attempted a coup, indicating the ongoing challenges to Darius's rule and the persistent influence of the Magi in Persian politics.