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X

Xerxes I(d. 466 B.C.E.)Persian king of Egypt of the
Twenty-seventh Dynasty
Xerxes I reigned over Egypt from 486 B.C.E. until his
death, but he never visited the Nile personally. He was
the son of DARIUS Iand Queen Atossa, and he completed
the city of Persepolis, a site that his father had begun as a
capital. He also put down rebellions in the Persian
Empire.
The Egyptians recorded Xerxes as a “criminal” after
he crushed a revolt on the Nile in his second year, using
the military units and commanders on the Nile. Xerxes
also forced the Egyptian fleet to punish the Greeks at
SALAMISand instituted his son ACHAEMENESas satrap of
Egypt. Xerxes was murdered with his son Crown Prince
Darius in his own court and was succeeded by ARTAX-
ERXES I, his son by Queen AMESTRIS.
See also MEGABYZUS.

Xois A site in the Delta (the modern Sakha) that served

as the capital of the Thirteenth Dynasty (1783–1640

B.C.E.). The Xoite rulers were limited in their powers, as

the HYKSOSsurrounded them and other cities raised up

their own royal lines. The rulers of Xois were named in

the TURIN CANONand listed by MANETHO. They were

probably eliminated during the Second Intermediate

Period (1640–1550 B.C.E.) and certainly removed from

power when ’AHMOSE (r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.) ousted the

Hyksos and reunited the nation.

The city of Xois was overrun by Libyan invaders

from the west in the reign of RAMESSES III(1194–1163

B.C.E.). He mounted a large military force and repelled

the MESHWESH, the dominating Libyan clan, and their

allies from the area in order to free the city and safeguard

the entire Delta.