Harpagus (aka Oibaras, aka Ugbaru, aka Darius the Mede), King of the Medes (sep 1, 550 BC – oct 12, 539 BC)

Description:

Ugbaru is Darius the Mede (539/538 BCE) by Gerard Gertoux

The chronology of Median kings comes from Herodotus (The Histories I:101-108)
who mentions a total solar eclipse at the end of Cyaxares reign (dated May 28, 585 BCE
according to astronomy). He wrote that Astyages, after a reign of 35 years, was defeated by Cyrus who thus became the ruler of Persia and Media, Harpagus becoming a coregent (The Histories I:127-130, 162, 177-178) called "Lieutenant of Cyrus" by Strabo (Geography VI:1) or "Commandant of Cyrus" by Diodorus Siculus (Historical Library IX:31:1). Harpagus is called Oibaras by Ctesias (Persica §13,36,45). According to Flavius Josephus, Cyrus took Babylon with the help of Darius the Mede, a "son of Astyages", at the epoch of Belshazzar,
in the year 17 of Nabonidus (Jewish Antiquities X:247-249). Transition in 550 BCE

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Harpagus, though he never had the title of king of the Medes because of Cyrus, the king in title, had the function. Ancient authors knew what they were not misled: Strabo (Geography VI:1) specifies that Harpagus was the "lieutenant of Cyrus" and, according to Diodorus (Historical Library IX:35:1), "Harpagus was appointed commander of the sea by Cyrus and was honored by him. Herodotus' account illustrates the role played by Harpagus until the capture of Babylon

According to Herodotus, Harpagus could have been an independent Median king, but preferred to be a "king" vassal of the Persians. Ctesias confirms Herodotus' account, except on two points: Harpagus was called Oibaras and the latter was not Median but Persian: When Cyrus questioned the man he replied that he was a Persian named Oibaras which greatly pleased him because Oibaras means 'bringer of good news' in Greek (...) Cyrus and his father marshaled the army and appointed Oibaras as general (...) Cyrus and Oibaras encouraged them as they entered the city because they killed more of the enemy (...) Much happened in the meantime until Cyrus entered the tent, sat upon the throne of Astyages, and took up his scepter. The Persians shouted their approval while Oibaras coronated him and said, "You are more worthy to wear this than Astyages because a god has bestowed it upon you for your virtue and the Persians are more worthy to rule over the Medes." Under the command of Oibaras, who appointed the officers (Persica §§13,32,36,45).

Concerning the fall of Babylon, Josephus says: When he [Nabonidus] was come to the 17th year of his reign, Cyrus came out of Persia with a great army; and having already conquered all the rest of Asia, he came hastily to Babylonia. When Nabonidus perceived he was coming to attack him, he met him with his forces, and joining battle with him was beaten, and fled away with a few of his troops with him, and was shut up within the city Borsippa. Hereupon Cyrus took Babylon, and gave order that the outer walls of the city should be demolished, because the city had proved very troublesome to him, and cost him a great deal of pains to take it. He then marched away to Borsippa, to besiege Nabonidus; but as Nabonidus did not sustain the siege, but delivered himself into his hands, he was at first kindly used by Cyrus, who gave him Carmania, as a place for him to inhabit in, but sent him out of Babylonia. Accordingly Nabonidus spent the rest of his time in that country, and there died (Against Apion I:150- 153). The city were taken by Cyrus, the king of Persia, who fought against him; for it was Belshazzar, under whom Babylon was taken, when he had reigned 17 years (...) but when Babylon was taken by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an end to the dominion of the Babylonians, he was 62 years old. He was the son of Astyages [the successor of Astyages, not the son, was Harpagus], and had another name among the Greeks (Jewish Antiquities X:247-249). Taking account of Herodotus, fairly reliable chronologically, Cyrus came to Babylon (in 539 BCE) in his 20th year of reign, accompanied by his Median vassal, Harpagus (Oibaras), who was he in his 11th year of "reign" after the removal of Astyages.

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The name, title and role of Ugbaru are particularly confusing. As we have seen, the
Babylonian chronicle is biased on this powerful character, as it calls him "governor of
Gutium" while he assumed the function of king. Indeed, the appointment of governors (or
satraps) was only the fact of the king22. The scribe of the Chronicle also stipulates that the
death of Ugbaru was quickly followed by the death of king's wife, indirectly confirming in
fact his title of King. Finally, the scribe is "wrong" in the spelling of Ugbaru which he also
wrote Gubaru. The name Ugbaru means nothing, but Gubaru means "neck" in Akkadian.
A transcript UG-ba-ru, instead of ug-ba-ru, could be read in Akkadian23 uggu-bâru "anger of
the diviner" or šarru-baru "King of the diviner." This is clearly more a nickname than a
given name. Similarly, the name Harpagus (haspargos in Greek) should also be a nickname,
because it is close to the Greek word "looting (hasparges)". The name Oibaras, quoted by
Ctesias, is more likely — it could be a transcription of the Elamite name Ubaruš "who has
well-formed shoulders24".


In conclusion, Ugbaru should really be called Ubaruš (Elamite name). When the
city of Babylon is taken, Cyrus appointed him as king and gave him the Persian name of
Darius "who owns the property." After his death, the Babylonian scribes nicknamed him:
Ugbaru "King of the diviner", and much later: Harpagus "looting" in Greek, because they
had a poor opinion of this king for the following reasons: 1) as the Medes were associated
with the Babylonians to overthrow Assyria (in 612 BCE) and were then combined with the
Persians to overthrow Babylon, they were considered traitors; 2) the status of the king of
Babylon was awarded following a religious ceremony26, which was not the case for Ugbaru;
and 3) this king was not to be appreciated by the satraps because, according to the text of
Daniel 6:24-27, he had thrown some of them to the lions and displayed an openly pro-
Jewish policy (Daniel was considered by the Babylonians as a harmful diviner).

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