The Resume

( -465 BC)
King of Persia (485 BC-465 BC)
Pronounced 'ZERK-seez'
Persian throne name was Khashayar Shah (meaning 'ruler of heroes')
Successor upon the death of his father - Darius I the Great
Assassinated by Artabanus (most likely on instruction from his son Artaxerxes who succeeded him)

Why he might be annoying:

He controlled Egypt with an iron hand, breaking the policy of his predecessors of ruling foreign lands with a light hand.
In 480 B.C., he invaded Greece, wreaked havoc on Athens and burned the Acropolis to the ground.
A storm had delayed his crossing into Greece, and he ordered the waters to be given 300 lashes as 'punishment.'
The Greeks defeated his forces a year later in the Battle of Plataea and he never mounted a counter attack.
After the defeat he withdrew from public life, devoting himself to what famed historian Herodotus called 'the intrigues of the harem.'
His self-absorbed lifestyle choice led to disgruntled followers and all but sealed his fate (murder).

Why he might not be annoying:

He took over from his father when the Persian Empire was on the decline.
He thwarted two Egyptian revolts and one Babylonian revolt.
After 10 years, he avenged his father's defeat by the Greeks at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.
His troops (10,000 total) had a cool nickname - the 'Immortals.'
He was stabbed multiple times even though the first few had done the job.
He was the inspiration for 1738 opera 'Serse' by George Handel.

Credit: Scar Tactics

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 7211)
• Ancient Times
• Ancient Times: Middle East
• Double X
• I was Murdered
• I was Stabbed
• Known By a Single Name
• Look at Me, I'm Thirsty
• Look at Me, I'm Using a Cane or Crutches
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Crown
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Middle Eastern Royalty
• Monarchs, Royalty and Nobles
• Profiles 16251-16500 (Ranked: 16309)
• Recluses
• Scar Tactics' Profiles [Series 03]
• Wizard Beards

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 66 Votes: 48.48% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 30 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 34 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 95 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 66 Votes: 78.79% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 45 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 40 Votes: 67.50% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 48 Votes: 60.42% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 101 Votes: 53.47% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 86 Votes: 54.65% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 359 Votes: 68.52% Annoying