Persian Empire Archives - History of Royal Women

Queen Phaedymia Shahbanu – The Persian Queen who used her feminine wiles and sex appeal to overthrow a king of the Achaemenid Empire

Tuesday, 31 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 1

Queen Phaedymia Shahbanu was queen consort to three Persian Kings of the Achaemenid Empire.[1] They were King Cambyses II, the False Smerdis, and King Darius the Great. She was also the niece of King Cyrus the Great.[2] Queen Phaedymia Shahbanu was known for her involvement in overthrowing the False Smerdis.[3] She also helped enthrone King [read more]

Parmys Shahbanu – The elusive Persian Queen of the Achaemenid Empire

Saturday, 28 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Queen Parmys Shahbanu was the granddaughter, niece, wife, stepmother, and cousin of Persian kings of the Achaemenid Empire. She was the queen consort of King Darius the Great of the Achaemenid Empire. She was the granddaughter of King Cyrus the Great. When Darius the Great became King of the Achaemenid Empire, he married her and [read more]

Artystone Shahbanu -The favourite wife of King Darius the Great of the Achaemenid Empire

Thursday, 26 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Queen Artystone Shahbanu was queen consort to King Darius the Great of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. She was also the daughter of King Cyrus the Great. Queen Artystone Shahbanu has largely been eclipsed by her more famous sister, Queen Atossa Shahbanu.[1] This may be because Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s sons did not become kings.[2] Nevertheless, Queen Artystone [read more]

Queen Amastris of Heraclea – The first Hellenistic Queen

Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Queen Amastris of Heraclea is generally considered to be the first Hellenistic queen.[1] She was a Persian princess and married three times.[2] Her third husband, King Lysimachus, made her queen regnant of Heraclea.[3] She was the first queen to mint coins in her own name.[4] Therefore, Queen Amastris of Heraclea proved to be a very proficient queen.[5] In circa [read more]

Princess Barsine – Mistress of Alexander the Great and mother of his illegitimate son

Thursday, 8 January 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Princess Barsine was a princess of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. She was the great-granddaughter of King Artaxerxes II.[1] Princess Barsine is most famous for being King Alexander the Great’s mistress.[2] Their love affair would last six years.[3] Princess Barsine would bear King Alexander the Great an illegitimate son named Prince Heracles.[4] However, King Alexander the Great would abandon her [read more]

Queen Roxane – The most famous wife of Alexander the Great

Saturday, 20 December 2025, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Queen Roxane was the most famous of King Alexander the Great’s wives.[1] She married him solely for political reasons.[2] She is famous for giving birth to King Alexander the Great’s only legitimate son, King Alexander IV.[3] However, Queen Roxane would learn that having a son by King Alexander the Great would prove to be dangerous.[4] Queen Roxane was [read more]