Satrap is a domineering cruel man. Currently, this is the name for a person who has committed bad deeds. In ancient times, becoming a satrap means receiving the highest rank and title. Before such a person, the subjects felt awe and respect. Receiving such a title was revered as a great honor and vocation.
The meaning of the term satrap
Satrap is a cruel and domineering person. This term was used in relation to the rulers of Ancient India, Persia and the Sumerian states. This concept is compared with the terms despot and tyrant, attaching great importance to it. In ancient Persia, satraps were called governors of large territories - satrapies. In fact, this is a head of state with a high rank and title. The word "satrap" itself has Greek and Persian roots, and is translated in almost the same way. This is the head of state, and the governor, and the rich man, and the protector of the kingdom.
The satrap was the second person after the king. In the province under his rule, the king left a garrison. The chiefs of the garrison were supposed to control the activities of the satraps and report them to the king. Otherwise, the central government did not interfere in the activities of the provincial government.
The satraps became the highest officials of the Persian state. Initially, this title was given to the chief of the fleet, and then to any high-ranking official. Representatives of the satraps were appointed from the court nobility. Satraps did not have clear boundaries and powers. In Ancient Persia, a satrap could get possession depending on the king's disposition to him. The more respected a satrap was, the more power in his province he could receive.
Rights and obligations of satraps
To become a satrap is to receive a tribute from the king. The despotic ruler of Persia, Darius, elected representatives from his family or court nobility to the post of satrap. All obeyed the elected governor in the satrapy. There was no person who would oppose the satrap's decision. For this, the person appointed to this position thanked the gods, bringing sacrifices and gifts to the temple.
The satrap on his territory monitored the collection of taxes and taxes, controlled the equipping of the army with weapons and food. In some cases, the head of the satrapy could also act as the supreme judge. The position of the head of the governorship assumed the ability to make important decisions when condemning or releasing a person.
The activities of the satraps were controlled with the help of the royal garrisons. They were obliged to keep an eye on the satraps, in case they decide to gain complete independence from the royal power. All residents of the regions, in contrast to the satraps and representatives of the nobility, had to pay a flat tax. Often, exorbitant fees led to uprisings against the tsarist government.
Rebellions of the satraps
During the reign of Darius the First, he introduced a new system of taxation, according to which all satrapies had to pay tribute to the royal treasury in silver. If there were no silver mines on the territory, then the regions had to buy this precious metal. As a result, uprisings began to rise against the king. One of the largest uprisings occurred in 373 BC. Several provinces opposed Darius. It was possible to suppress this resistance only in 359 BC, already under the new king Artaxerxes.
Currently, the term has a negative connotation. Any unpleasant person can be called it, thus evaluating his actions.