o reinforce him.
With this important aid Hystaspes once more gave the rebels battle, and
succeeded in defeating them so entirely that they presently made their
submission.

Troubles, meanwhile, had broken out in Sagartia. A native chief, moved
probably by the success which had for a while attended the Median rebel
who claimed to rule as the descendant and representative of Cyaxares,
came forward with similar pretensions, and was accepted by the
Sargartians as their monarch. This revolt, however, proved unimportant.
Darius suppressed it with the utmost facility by means of a mixed
army of Persians and Medes, whom he placed under a Median leader,
Tachamaspates. The pretender was captured and treated almost exactly
in the same way as the Mede whose example he had followed. His nose and
ears were cut off; he was chained for a while at the palace door; and
finally he was crucified at Arbela.

Another trifling revolt occurred about the same time in Margiana. The
Margians rebelled and set up a certain Phraates, a native, to be their
king. But the satrap of Bactria, within whose province Margiana lay,
quelled the revolt almost immediately.

Hitherto, however thickly troubles had come upon him, Darius could have
the satisfaction of feeling that he was contending with foreigners,
and that his own nation at any rate was faithful and true. But now
this consolation was to be taken from him. During his absence in
the provinces of the north-east Persia itself revolted against his
authority, and acknowledged for king an impostor, who, undeterred by the
fate of Gomates, and relying on the obscurity which still hung over
the end of the real Smerdis, assumed his name, and claimed to be the
legitimate occupant of the throne. The Persians at home were either
deceived a second time, or were willing to try a change of ruler; but
the army of Darius, composed of Persians and Medes, adhered to the
banner under which they had so often marched to victory, and enabled
Darius, after a struggle of some duration, to re-establish his sway.
The impostor suffered two defeats at the hands of Artabardes, one
of Darius's generals, while a force which he had detached to excite
rebellion in Arachosia was engaged by the satrap of that province and
completely routed. The so-called Smerdis was himself captured, and
suffered the usual penalty of unsuccessful revolt, crucifixion.

Before, however, these results were accomplished--while the fortune of
war stil