BESSUS, satrap of Bactria and Sogdiana under Darius III. In the battle of Gaugamela (Oct. 1, 331 B.c.) he commanded the troops of his satrapy. When Alexander pursued the Persian king on his flight to the East (summer 33o B.c.), Bessus, with some other conspirators, deposed Darius and shortly afterwards killed him. He then tried to organize a national resistance against Alexander in the eastern provinces, proclaimed himself king and took the name Artaxerxes. But he was taken prisoner in the summer of 329. Alexander sent him to Ecbatana, where he was condemned to death.