Editing Satrap (section)

===Medo-Persian===
[[File:Map of Achaemenid Imperial Satraps (English Version).png|thumb|350px|Satrapies of the Achaemenid Empire]]
[[File:Karaburun Elmali dignitary 470 BCE.jpg|thumb|A dignitary of [[Asia Minor]] in Achaemenid style, {{Circa|475 BC}}; Karaburun tomb near [[Elmalı]], [[Lycia]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=André-Salvini |first1=Béatrice |title=Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia |date=2005 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-24731-4 |page=46 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kJnaKu9DdNEC&pg=PA46 |language=en}}</ref>]]
Although the first large-scale use of satrapies, or provinces, originates from the inception of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] under [[Cyrus the Great]], beginning at around 530{{nbsp}}BCE, provincial organization actually originated during the [[Medes|Median]] era from at least 648{{nbsp}}BCE.

Up to the time of the conquest of [[Medes|Media]] by Cyrus the Great, emperors ruled the lands they conquered through [[client king]]s and governors. The main difference was that in Persian culture the concept of kingship was indivisible from divinity: divine authority validated the [[divine right of kings]]. The twenty-six satraps established by Cyrus were never kings, but [[viceroy]]s ruling in the king's name. However, in political reality many took advantage of any opportunity to carve out an independent power base for themselves. [[Darius I|Darius the Great]] gave the satrapies a definitive organization, increased their number to thirty-six, and fixed their annual tribute ([[Behistun inscription]]).

[[File:IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Themistokles. Circa 465-459 BC.jpg|thumb|left|Coin of [[Themistocles]], a former Athenian general, as [[Achaemenid Empire]] Satrap of [[Magnesia on the Meander|Magnesia]], {{Circa|465–459 BC}}]]
The satrap was in charge of the land that he owned as an administrator, and found himself surrounded by an all-but-royal court; he collected the taxes, controlled the local officials and the subject tribes and cities, and was the supreme judge of the province before whose "chair" (''Nehemiah''{{nbsp}}3:7) every civil and criminal case could be brought. He was responsible for the safety of the roads (cf.{{nbsp}}Xenophon), and had to put down brigands and rebels.

He was assisted by a council of Persians, to which also provincials were admitted and which was controlled by a royal secretary and emissaries of the king, especially the "eye of the king", who made an annual inspection and exercised permanent control.

[[File:CILICIA, Mallos. Tiribazos. Satrap of Lydia, 388-380 BC.jpg|thumb|Coinage of [[Tiribazos]], Satrap of [[Lydia (satrapy)|Achaemenid Lydia]], 388–380 BC]]
There were further checks on the power of each satrap: besides his secretarial scribe, his chief financial official (Old Persian ''ganzabara'') and the general in charge of the regular army of his province and of the fortresses were independent of him and periodically reported directly to the ''shah'', in person. The satrap was allowed to have troops in his own service.

The great satrapies (provinces) were often divided into smaller districts, the governors of which were also called satraps and (by Greco-Roman authors) also called ''hyparchs'' (actually ''Hyparkhos'' in Greek, 'vice-regents').<ref>Tuplin, Christopher, [https://www.academia.edu/4251207/The%20administration%20of%20the%20Achaemenid%20Empire "The Administration of the Achaemenid Empire"]. In I. Carradice (ed.), ''Coinage and Administration in the Athenian and Persian Empires'' (1987; Oxford: BAR), 109-166.</ref> The distribution of the great satrapies was changed repeatedly, and often two of them were given to the same man.
[[File:Achaemenid Satrap Autophradates with visitors Payava tomb.jpg|thumb|Achaemenid Satrap [[Autophradates]] receiving visitors, on the [[Tomb of Payava]], {{circa|380 BC}}]]

As the provinces were the result of consecutive conquests (the homeland had a special status, exempt from provincial tribute), both primary and sub-satrapies were often defined by former states and/or ethno-religious identity. One of the keys to the Achaemenid success was their open attitude to the culture and religion of the conquered people, so the Persian culture was the one most affected as the Great King endeavoured to meld elements from all his subjects into a new imperial style, especially at his capital, [[Persepolis]].

[[File:Satrap sarcophagus banquet scene.jpg|thumb|left|Banquet scene of a Satrap, on the "Sarcophagus of the Satrap", [[Sidon]], 4th century BC]]
Whenever central authority in the empire weakened, the satrap often enjoyed practical independence, especially as it became customary to appoint him also as general-in-chief of the army district, contrary to the original rule. "When his office became hereditary, the threat to the central authority could not be ignored" (Olmstead). Rebellions of satraps became frequent from the middle of the 5th{{nbsp}}century BCE. [[Darius I]] struggled with widespread rebellions in the satrapies, and under [[Artaxerxes II]] occasionally the greater parts of [[Asia Minor]] and Syria were in open rebellion ([[Revolt of the Satraps]]).

The last great rebellions were put down by [[Artaxerxes III]].