Hecatomnids

The Hecatomnid dynasty or Hecatomnids were the rulers of Caria and surrounding areas from about 395–334 BCE, after Caria had left the Athenian alliance called the Delian League and returned under the control of the Achaemenid Empire. Before that, during the first period of Achaemenid rule, Caria was governed by the Lygdamid dynasty (520-450 BCE).

Hecatomnid dynasty (Dynasts of Caria)
c. 395–377 BCE Hecatomnus c. 377–353 BCE Mausolus c. 353–351 BCE Artemisia II c. 351–344 BCE Idrieus c. 344–340 BCE Ada c. 340–335 BCE Pixodarus c. 334–326 BCE Ada

Family tree of the Hecatomnids

Statue of a Hecatomnid ruler, perhaps Mausolus (British Museum)

Caria, under the Hecatomnids.

The Hecatomnids were nominally satraps (governors) under the Achaemenid Empire, but ruled with considerable autonomy, and established a hereditary dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Hecatomnus and originally had its seat in Mylasa; Mausolus moved it to Halicarnassus.

Hecatomnus' five children succeeded him in succession. The dynasty engaged in sibling marriage, presumably to preserve royal power within the family.[1]

The dynasty ended with the conquests of Alexander the Great. Ada adopted him as her son, so that he would succeed to the rule of Caria.

The best-known monument of the dynasty is the Mausoleum that Artemisia II built in honor of her husband and brother Mausolus.

After the death of Pixodarus, the last member of the Hecatomnids, Orontobates was sent by the king of Persia to succeed him. Orontobates, a Persian, married the daughter of Pixodarus, and ruled from 335 to 334.

After the conquest of Alexander the Great, Ada again ruled from 334 to 326 under the Macedonian Empire.