Teispes
king of Persia
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
Teispes (flourished 7th century bc) was an early Achaemenid Persian king (reigned c. 675–c. 640), the forefather of the great kings Darius I and Cyrus II.
He was, perhaps, the son of Achaemenes, whose name was given to the Achaemenid dynasty. Teispes ruled the district of Anshan in Elam (north of the Persian Gulf) and tried to maintain a neutral position between the powerful kingdoms of Elam and Assyria. At his death, Teispes either divided his kingdom between his sons, Ariaramnes and Cyrus I, or provided for an alternation in succession between the senior and junior lines.