The leadership styles of the Persian kings in Herodotus' Histories
Herodotus' portraits of the four Persian kings in the Histories present the reader with four very distinct personalities. This offers an opportunity to compare them with each other as individuals, rather than as linked parts of an overall Herodotean pattern (such as the rise and fall of empires), and to use detailed differences between them at the micro-level as the basis for an analysis of each one's own unique style of leadership. My analysis takes as its starting point the classification of three of the kings allegedly made by the Persians themselves (see 3.89.3), focusing on all four kings' styles as presented within the contexts of Persian imperialism; advice and advisers; and three specific modes of behaviour (violence, uncertainty and fear). Each king is shown consistently to exhibit his own style of leadership - Cyrus as piealphaÏáœ"Ï, Cambyses as deltaÎ"sigmapieáœčÏÎ·Ï, Darius as kappaáœ±pieÎ·GammaÎżÏ, and Xerxes as a consultative leader. My analysis uncovers Herodotus' awareness of many aspects of the problem of leadership in a monarchical system (such as the tension between offering sound advice and delivering mere flattery), as well as his non-judgmental approach to each individual king's
Fitzsimons, Stephen
The leadership styles of the Persian kings in Herodotus' Histories. Herodotus' portraits of the four Persian kings in the Histories present the reader with four very distinct personalities. This offers an opportunity to compare them with each other as individuals, rather than as linked parts of an overall Herodotean pattern (such as the rise and fall of empires), and to use detailed differences between them at the micro-level as the basis for an analysis of each one's own unique style of leadership. My analysis takes as its starting point the classification of three of the kings allegedly made by the Persians themselves (see 3.89.3), focusing on all four kings' styles as presented within the contexts of Persian imperialism; advice and advisers; and three specific modes of behaviour (violence, uncertainty and fear). Each king is shown consistently to exhibit his own style of leadership - Cyrus as piealphaÏáœ"Ï, Cambyses as deltaÎ"sigmapieáœčÏÎ·Ï, Darius as kappaáœ±pieÎ·GammaÎżÏ, and Xerxes as a consultative leader. My analysis uncovers Herodotus' awareness of many aspects of the problem of leadership in a monarchical system (such as the tension between offering sound advice and delivering mere flattery), as well as his non-judgmental approach to each individual king's
leadership style persian king herodotus histories herodotus portrait persian king histories present reader four_distinct personality offer_opportunity compare individual rather link part overall herodotean pattern rise_fall empire use detailed difference micro_level basis analysis unique style leadership analysis take_start_point classification king allegedly make see focus king style present within contexts persian imperialism advice adviser specific mode behaviour violence uncertainty fear king show consistently exhibit style leadership leader analysis uncovers herodotus awareness many_aspect problem leadership monarchical system tension offer sound advice deliver mere well non individual king