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The principal source for his history is his own inscriptions, especially the great [[Behistun Inscription|inscription of Behistun]], in which he relates how he gained the crown and put down the rebellions. In modern times his veracity has often been doubted, but without any sufficient reason; the whole tenor of his words shows that we can rely upon his account. The accounts given by [[Herodotus]] and [[Ctesias]] of his accession are in many points evidently dependent on this official version, with many legendary stories interwoven, e.g. that Darius and his allies left the question as to which of them should become king to the decision of their horses, and that Darius won the crown by a trick of his groom.
Darius belonged to a younger branch of the royal family of the [[Achaemenid]]ae. When, after the suicide of [[Cambyses II]] ([[March]] [[521 BC|521]]), the usurper [[Gaumata]] ruled undisturbed over the whole empire under the name of Bardiya (''Smerdis''), son of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]], and no one dared to gainsay him. Darius, "with the help of [[Ahura Mazda|Ahuramazda]]," attempted to regain the kingdom for the royal race. His father [[Hystaspes]] was still alive, but evidently had not the courage to urge his claims. Actually, according to his incription found at [[Susa]], both his father Hystaspes and his grandfather Arsames, were alive when he became the king. Assisted by six noble Persians, whose names he proclaims at the end of the Behistun inscription, he surprised and killed the usurper in a [[Medes|Median]] fortress (October 521), and gained the crown. He also married [[Atossa]], the widow of false Smerdis and daughter of King [[Cyrus the Great]] of Persia. (Darius was succeeded on the throne by his and Atossa's son Xerxes.)
But this sudden change was the signal for an attempt on the part of all the eastern provinces to regain their independence. In [[Susiana]], [[Babylon]], [[Medes|Media]], [[Sagartia]], and [[Margiana]], usurpers arose, pretending to be of the old royal race, and gathered large armies around them; in Persia itself [[Vahyazdata]] imitated the example of Gaumata and was acknowledged by the majority of the people as the true Bardiya. Darius with only a small army of Persians and Medes and some trustworthy generals overcame all difficulties, and in 520 and 519 all the rebellions were put down ([[Babylon]] rebelled twice, Susiana even three times), and the authority of Darius was established throughout the empire.
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