Before his appointment, Oxydates had for an unknown reason been imprisoned at Susa by his former suzerain, the Achaemenid ruler Darius III (r. 336–330 BC).
[2] However, he was convicted of misconduct in late 328 BC, and thus lost his office to Atropates.
He may have been arrested or executed by Atropates at the instruction of Alexander, or even managed to escape.
[1] Following Oxydates' dismissal, a Mede named Baryaxes rebelled, donning a upright tiara as well as assuming the title of king.
He and his supporters were subsequently defeated by Atropates, who delivered them to Alexander at Pasargadae in early 324 BC, where they were executed.