Xerxes II (; peo,
𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 ; grc,
Ξέρξης ; died 424 BC) was a
Persian king
This is a list of monarchs of Persia (or monarchs of the Iranic peoples, in present-day Iran), which are known by the royal title Shah or Shahanshah. This list starts from the establishment of the Medes around 671 BCE until the deposition of the ...
who was very briefly a ruler of the
Achaemenid Empire, as the son and successor of
Artaxerxes I.
After a reign of forty-five days—where he only had control over the Persian heartlands—he was assassinated in 424 BC by his half-brother
Sogdianus
Sogdianus ( or ; grc-gre, Σογδιανὸς ) was briefly a ruler of the Achaemenid Empire for a period in 424–423 BC. His short rule—lasting not much more than six months—and the little recognition of his kingdom are known primarily fr ...
, who in turn was murdered by
Darius II six months later. He is an obscure historical figure known primarily from the writings of
Ctesias
Ctesias (; grc-gre, Κτησίας; fl. fifth century BC), also known as Ctesias of Cnidus, was a Greek physician and historian from the town of Cnidus in Caria, then part of the Achaemenid Empire.
Historical events
Ctesias, who lived in the fi ...
. He was the only legitimate son of
Artaxerxes I and
Damaspia, and is known to have served as
crown prince
A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wi ...
.
The last inscription mentioning Artaxerxes I being alive can be dated to 424 BC. He succeeded to the throne but two of his illegitimate brothers claimed the throne for themselves. The first was
Sogdianus
Sogdianus ( or ; grc-gre, Σογδιανὸς ) was briefly a ruler of the Achaemenid Empire for a period in 424–423 BC. His short rule—lasting not much more than six months—and the little recognition of his kingdom are known primarily fr ...
, Artaxerxes I's son by his
concubine
Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive.
Concubi ...
Alogyne of
Babylon. The second was Darius II, Artaxerxes I's son by his concubine Cosmartidene of Babylon, who was married to their common half-sister
Parysatis, daughter of Artaxerxes I and his concubine Andia of Babylon.
[S. Zawadzki, "The Circumstances of Darius II's Accession", ''Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux'', 34 (1995-1996), pp. 45-49]
Xerxes II was only recognized as king in
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
and Sogdianus in
Elam. Ochus' first inscription as
Darius II can be dated to January 10, 423 BC. He was already
satrap of
Hyrcania
Hyrcania () ( el, ''Hyrkania'', Old Persian: 𐎺𐎼𐎣𐎠𐎴 ''Varkâna'',Lendering (1996) Middle Persian: 𐭢𐭥𐭫𐭢𐭠𐭭 ''Gurgān'', Akkadian: ''Urqananu'') is a historical region composed of the land south-east of the Caspian ...
and was soon recognized by
Media
Media may refer to:
Communication
* Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data
** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising
** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass e ...
,
Babylonia and
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
. Xerxes II only ruled forty-five days. He was murdered by Pharnacyas and Menostanes on Sogdianus' orders, while drunk. Sogdianus gained the support of his regions, but was killed a few months later. Darius II became the sole ruler of the Persian Empire and reigned until 404 BC.
[
]
References
External links
A more detailed profile of Xerxes II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xerxes 02 Of Persia
5th-century BC Kings of the Achaemenid Empire
5th-century BC Pharaohs
5th-century BC Babylonian kings
Kings of the Achaemenid Empire
Pharaohs of the Achaemenid dynasty of Egypt
Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt
424 BC deaths
5th-century BC murdered monarchs
Murdered Persian monarchs
Year of birth unknown
5th-century BC Iranian people
5th-century BC rulers