Intro. Xerxes I (Xerxes) was a monarch with a complex personality: proud and majestic, but also impulsive and vulnerable to the influence of his advisors.
Pride and arrogance: Greek chroniclers, such as Herodotus, describe him as a king who considered himself almost divine, with excessive confidence in his power.
Impulsiveness: He made quick and sometimes ill-considered decisions, such as the massive invasion of Greece, which ended in disaster in Salamis.
Majesty and theatricality: He liked to show his power with grandiose gestures, such as the famous boat bridge over the Hellespont, which he ordered to be struck when a storm destroyed it.
Cruelty and severity: He quelled rebellions in Egypt and Babylon harshly, showing little tolerance for dissent.
External influence: Although powerful, he was susceptible to pressure from his advisors, such as Mardonius, who convinced him to attack Greece.
Balance of his character
Strengths: Charisma, authority, ability to inspire obedience and