2. Bagoas: The Persian Poison Master
Bagoas worked as chamberlain to King Artaxerxes III in the Achaemenid Empire during the 4th century BCE. Not content to serve, he killed his master with poison in 338 BCE. Then he put Artaxerxes’ son on the throne, only to kill him too when the new king showed independence. Finally, he installed Darius III, who would later face Alexander the Great. His unique position gave him access to the king’s food and drink, making him more dangerous than any general.
