Atropates

Nothing is known of Atropates' early career, but it is certain that his parents were Zoroastrians (that is, the followers of the teachings of the legendary prophet Zarathustra): this can be inferred from his name - Âtarepâta ("keeper of the fire") was one of the sons of Zarathustra. The family of Atropates must have been rich and influential, because their son was satrap of Media.

Atropates was one of the generals in the Persian army in the battle of Gaugamela; as satrap of Media, he commanded one of the most important contingents in the army of king Darius III. The battle, which was fought on 1 October 331 BCE, had a disastrous outcome: the enemy, the Macedonian king Alexander the Great, was victorious and -as it turned out- the Achaemenid empire was unable to recover.

During the winter, Atropates offered hospitality to his king in Ecbatana (modern Hamadan), the capital of Media. Darius tried to recruit a new army, but it was not yet ready when Alexander, who had razed the Persian capital Persepolis, approached in June 330. The king fled to the East and was killed, and Atropates surrendered to the conqueror. He was reappointed, because Alexander wanted to win the native nobility to his side. (Other Persians that received important offices in Alexander's realm, were Artabazus and Mazaeus.)

Ecbatana was the bridge between Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean and the eastern satrapies; because Alexander had to campaign in the East, it was essential that the satrap of Media was a reliable man. Atropates was reliable indeed; when Alexander's right hand man Parmenion was killed in Ecbatana, he managed to keep the country at rest. And in 324, he arrested a rebel named Baryaxes (he had claimed to be king of Medes and Persians) and brought him to Alexander when he visited the religious capital of Persia, Pasargadae.

Atropates traveled with Alexander to Susa, where his daughter married to one of Alexander's most important generals, Perdiccas (text). In the autumn and winter of 324/323, he entertained Alexander at Ecbatana, and offered the king the remarkable present of one hundred female warriors. The king may have needed the entertainment, because his closest friend Hephaestion had died shortly after his arrival at Ecbatana.

Half a year later, Alexander died and the Macedonian commanders divided the satrapies during the conference at Triparadisus (320). Media was divided; the southern part, which controlled the road from West to East, was given to a Macedonian named Peithon, but the northern part remained Atropates' realm. This is the last we hear of Atropates from Greek sources. He is almost absent from the histories of the wars of the Diadochi.

The Zoroastrian tradition tells the sequel. During the reign of Alexander, the Zoroastrians had been persecuted. Many of them were loyal subjects of Alexander -e.g., Atropates- but others offered resistance. A Zoroastrian source from the third or fourth century CE, the Book of Arda Wiraz, tells:

The accursed Evil Spirit, the Wicked One, in order to make men doubtful of this religion, instigated the accursed Alexander [...] to come to the country of Iran with severe cruelty and war and devastation; he also slew the ruler of Iran [Darius], and destroyed the metropolis [Persepolis] and empire, and made them desolate.

And this religion, namely, all the Avesta and commentaries, written upon prepared cow-skins, and with gold ink, was deposited in the archives, in Stakhar Papakan, and [...] Alexander [...] burned them up. And he killed several high priests and judges and priests and the masters of the Magians and upholders of the religion, and the competent and wise of the country of Iran. And he cast hatred and strife, one with the other, amongst the nobles and householders of the country of Iran.

After the empire had been divided among the Macedonian leaders, Atropates was one of the native leaders. It seems that he offered a safe haven to Zoroastrians. The Book of Arda Wiraz continues:

And after that, there were confusion and contention among the people of the country of Iran, one with the other. And so they had no lord, nor ruler, nor chieftain, nor high priest who was acquainted with the religion, and they were doubtful in regard to God; and religions of many kinds, and different fashions of belief, and skepticism, and various codes of law were promulgated in the world; until the time when the blessed and immortal Ataropad-i Marspendan came; on whose breast, in the tale which is in the Denkard, melted brass was poured.