The long reign of Artaxerxes Mnemon was now verging towards its close.

He was advanced in years, and enfeebled in mind and body, suspicious of his sons and of his nobles, especially of such as showed more than common ability.

Under these circumstances, revolts on the part of satraps grew frequent.

First Ariobarzanes, satrap of Phrygia, renounced his allegiance (B.C.

366), and defended himself with success against Autophradates, satrap of Lydia, and Mausolus, native king of Caria under Persia, to whom the task of reducing him had been entrusted.