Smerdis

, a son of Cyrus, put to death by order of his brother Cambyses. As his execution was not public, and as it was only known to one of the officers of the monarch, one of the Magi of Persia, who was himself called Smerdis, and who greatly resembled the deceased prince, declared himself king, at the death of Cambyses. This usurpation would not, perhaps, have been known, had not he taken too many precautions to conceal it. After he had reigned for six months with universal approbation, seven noblemen of Persia conspired to dethrone him, and when this had been executed with succe , they chose one of their number to reign in the usurper’s place, B.C. 521. This was Darius the son of Hystaspes. Hero dot us , bk. 3 , ch. 30 .— Justin , bk. 1 , ch. 9 .