Mausolus was the eldest son of Hecatomnus, a native Carian who became the satrap of Caria when Tissaphernes died, around 395 BC.

Mausolus participated in the Revolt of the Satraps, both on his nominal sovereign Artaxerxes Mnemon's side and (briefly) against him.
In 366 BC, Mausolus together with Autophradates of Lydia, at the request of Artaxerxes, led the siege of Adramyttium against Ariobarzanes, one of the members of the Great Satraps' Revolt, until Agesilaus, king of Sparta, negotiated the besiegers' retreat.

Mausolus conquered a great part of Lycia circa 360 BC, putting an end to the line of dynasts that had ruled there.
He also invaded Ionia and several Greek islands; and he cooperated with the Rhodians in the Social War against Athens.
 He moved his capital from Mylasa, the ancient seat of the Carian kings, to Halicarnassus.

Mausolus embraced Hellenic culture.
He is best known for the monumental shrine, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, erected and named for him by order of his widow (who was also his sister) Artemisia.
 Antipater of Sidon listed the Mausoleum as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The architects Satyrus and Pythis, and the sculptors Scopas of Paros, Leochares, Bryaxis and Timotheus, finished the work after the death of Artemisia, some of them working (it was said) purely for renown.
 The site and a few remains can still be seen in the Turkish town of Bodrum.
Derived from his name, the term mausoleum has come to be used generically for any grand tomb.

An inscription discovered at Milas, the ancient Mylasa, details the punishment of certain conspirators who had made an attempt upon his life at a festival in a temple at Labraunda in 353 BC.
Mausolus was the eldest son of Hecatomnus, a native Carian who became the satrap of Caria when Tissaphernes died, around 395 BC.
Mausolus participated in the Revolt of the Satraps, both on his nominal sovereign Artaxerxes Mnemon's side and (briefly) against him. In 366 BC, Mausolus together with Autophradates of Lydia, at the request of Artaxerxes, led the siege of Adramyttium against Ariobarzanes, one of the members of the Great Satraps' Revolt, until Agesilaus, king of Sparta, negotiated the besiegers' retreat.
Mausolus conquered a great part of Lycia circa 360 BC, putting an end to the line of dynasts that had ruled there. He also invaded Ionia and several Greek islands; and he cooperated with the Rhodians in the Social War against Athens.  He moved his capital from Mylasa, the ancient seat of the Carian kings, to Halicarnassus.
Mausolus embraced Hellenic culture. He is best known for the monumental shrine, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, erected and named for him by order of his widow (who was also his sister) Artemisia.  Antipater of Sidon listed the Mausoleum as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The architects Satyrus and Pythis, and the sculptors Scopas of Paros, Leochares, Bryaxis and Timotheus, finished the work after the death of Artemisia, some of them working (it was said) purely for renown.  The site and a few remains can still be seen in the Turkish town of Bodrum. Derived from his name, the term mausoleum has come to be used generically for any grand tomb.
An inscription discovered at Milas, the ancient Mylasa, details the punishment of certain conspirators who had made an attempt upon his life at a festival in a temple at Labraunda in 353 BC.
Mausolus