When Xerxes and the crown prince Darius were murdered in 465 BCE, younger brother Artaxerxes I took the throne. His rule was anything but stable, and within a few months of his succession, a rebel Egyptian ruler in Sais, Amyrtaois, rose up against him. Artaxerxes managed to hold the city of Memphis and the Egyptians and their Greek allies were defeated.

However, Artaxerxes was killed in the battle at Papremis and it was his satrap, Megabysos, who destroyed the Greek fleet and re-took Memphis for him. Upper Egypt still remained in Persian control and Athens pledged to have no part in the conflict. They were on their own in Egypt.

It is interesting to note that most of Upper Egypt was still under control of the Persians at this time, even if the cities in the Delta and Lower Egypt were unsettled.

pharaohs

Cambyses
Darius I
Xerxes I
Artaxerxes I
Xerxes II
Sogdianus
Darius II
Artaxerxes II