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The Athenians attack first before the Persians could prepare for battle. Ten years ago, prior to the first flim, Xerxes is a prince while his father, King Darius, leads the Persians to attack Greece. In 300: Rise of an Empire, more of Xerxes' past is revealed. He is the main antagonist, who started a war with the Spartans. There is nothing close to a consensus, however, as to what historical event provided the basis for the story. Xerxes is identified with the king Ahasuerus in the biblical Book of Esther, which some scholars consider to be historical romance. Roman Ghirshman says that, "After this he ceased to use the title of 'king of Babylon', calling himself simply 'king of the Persians and the Medes'." Xerxes also oversaw the completion of various construction projects at Susa and Persepolis. However, Xerxes successfully crushed revolts in Egypt and Babylon. His forces temporarily overran mainland Greece north of the Isthmus of Corinth until losses at Salamis and Plataea a year later reversed these gains and ended the second invasion decisively. Xerxes I is notable in Western history for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC. He ruled from 486 BC until his assassination in 465 BC at the hands of Artabanus, the commander of the royal bodyguard. Like his father, he ruled the empire at its territorial apex. 550 – 530 BC), the founder of the Achaemenid empire. 522 – 486 BC) and his mother was Atossa, a daughter of Cyrus the Great ( r. He was the son and successor of Darius the Great ( r. Xerxes I (Old Persian: ???????, romanized: Xšaya-ṛšā c. 518 – August 465 BC), commonly known as Xerxes the Great, was the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, ruling from 486 to 465 BC.