Wonder Woman of the Week: Artemisia I of Caria

The spotlight for this week is considered one of the most successful warrior women in history. She was involved in a failed attempt at invading Europe and was the only naval captain to escape defeat at the final battle of the war. Not only was she able to escape herself; but she also saved the royal family in the process, became a national hero, and garnered the immortal respect of her emperor. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Artemisia I of Caria.

Due to accounts being lost, the details of Artemisia’s birth are largely unknown. What is known about her early life goes farther back than her birth however. When the Persian Empire expanded in the 6th and 5th Centuries BC, the Lydian Empire controlled the city-state of Halicarnassus. When the Persians captured the region, they instilled a local governor named Lygdamis- Artemisia’s father. Artemisia grew up in the region during a time of conflict between the growing Persian Empire and the warring Greek city-states. Upon Lygdamis’ death, Artemisia was named regent of the throne until her son was old enough for office. It was during this time that Xerxes of Persia decided to get revenge on the Athenians after his father’s defeat at the Battle of Marathon. [1]

Xerxes assembled the largest fighting force the Greek city-state armies had ever witnessed before. During the campaign to conquer the Balkans, Xerxes met stiff resistance against the unified city-states, but continued nonetheless to push deep into the heart of modern-day Greece. But Xerxes and his forces were losing troops in such large numbers, one of his naval commanders suggested he return to Asia and assemble a second army to reinforce the first wave of the attack. Artemisia’s recommendation fell on deaf ears and when Xerxes moved his navies south after sacking Athens, the fleet was ambushed and decimated at the Battle of Salamis. Only one admiral escaped the battle- Artemisia. She even rescued Xerxes’ sons on her retreat. Her performance during the battle that even the Greeks sent their respects. When the father of history- Herodotus- wrote about Artemisia his contemporaries complained he spend so much time celebrating her successes that he left out details about other major figures of the war. [2]

After the Battle of Salamis, Artemisia delivered the emperor’s sons back to Persia and returned to Halicarnassus. From there, the historical record ends. But recent evidence discovered by archaeologists at the ruins of Halicarnassus found evidence that may suggest what happened to the warrior regent after her return home. A jar with the royal signature of Xerxes himself was discovered in the ruins. The item is not unique, as Xerxes gave presents with his royal signature- like the jar- to a select number of national heroes as gratitude for their services to the empire. No other historical record denotes Persian national heroes from Halicarnassus during the time of Xerxes suggesting the jar was a gift from Xerxes himself to Artemisia thanking her for saving his sons at Salamis. [3]

Artemisia is important in history for a number of reasons. She took the throne of her father after his death and commanded the office in her infant son’s place. Not only was she a regent of a Persian kingdom, but a successful admiral called on to take part in the largest amphibious invasion force in Eurasian history to-date. On top of all of that, she counseled the emperor on military strategy, rescued his sons in a disastrous defeat at Salamis, and retired from war a national hero.

“Halicarnassus (Bodrum).” Livius.org. np, 2003. Web. 5 October 2016.

Mark, Joshua J. “Artemisia I of Caria.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. np, 12 March 2014. Web. 5 October 2016.

“Artemisia of Halicarnassus.” Livius.org. np, 2005. Web. 5 October 2016.