A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Artemisia
ARTEMISIA, Queen of Carta, Daughter of Lygdamus.
This princess, celebrated for her courage and prudence, enjoyed the royal authority, on account of the the minority of her son. When Xerxes declared war against the Greeks, about the year 480 B. C. the love of glory led her to accompany him in this expedition; and she distinguished herself more than any of the Persian generals. She counselled Xerxes not to risk the battle of Salamis, the event of which was so unfortunate to him. During the action, she, however, acted so conspicuous a part, that the Athenians offered a great reward to any man who should take her prisoner. Seeing herself pursued for this purpose, by one of their vessels, without any hope of escape, she made use of a bold and cruel stratagem, which at once gratified her revenge, and ensured her safety. She attacked a Persian vessel, commanded by Damasythimus, king of Calyndus, who was her enemy, and sunk it. The Athenians, judging by this action that she was in the Grecian interest, ceased to pursue her, and Xerxes, who believed she had destroyed a Grecian vessel, cried out, "that the men behaved like women, and the women like men." He confided to her the care of the young princes his children, when, by her advice, he abandoned Greece to return into Asia.
Expert in all the arts and stratagems of war, Artemisia wished to make herself mistress of Latmus, a small city on the borders of her kingdom. She placed some troops in ambuscade, and went, with a grand suite, as if to celebrate the feast of Cybele in an adjoining wood, which was consecrated to that goddess. The inhabitants abandoned the city to join in this act of devotion; and, in the meanwhile, her soldiers took possession of the place.
Artemisia is said to have been desperately in love with a young man named Dardanus, who slighted her, which enraged her to such a degree, that she commanded his eyes to be put out whilst he slept; and finding her passion unconquerable, soon afterwards flung herself from the top of the famous promontory of Leucas into the sea.