Editing Xerxes II

{{Short description|Ruler of the Achaemenid Empire in 424 BC}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Xerxes II<br>𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠
| title        = 
| image        = Coin of Achaemenid Empire (Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II) (Cropped).jpg
| image_size   = 
| caption      = [[Achaemenid coinage|Achaemenid coin]] minted at [[Sardis]], possibly under Xerxes II
| succession   = [[King of Kings]] of the [[Achaemenid Empire]],<br>[[List of pharaohs|Pharaoh of Egypt]]
| reign        = 424 BC (45 days)
| predecessor  = [[Artaxerxes I]]
| successor    = [[Sogdianus]]
| native_lang1 = Old Persian
| native_lang1_name1 = 
| birth_date   = 
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = 424 BC
| death_place  = [[Persepolis]], [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]]
| dynasty      = [[Achaemenid dynasty|Achaemenid]]
| father       = [[Artaxerxes I]]
| mother       = [[Damaspia]]
| issue        = 
| religion     = [[Zoroastrianism]]
}}

'''Xerxes II''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|ɜr|k|s|iː|z}}; {{langx|peo|[[wiktionary:𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠|𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠]]}} {{Transliteration|peo|Xšayār̥šā}}; {{langx|grc|[[wiktionary:Ξέρξης|Ξέρξης]]}} {{Transliteration|grc|Xérxēs}}; died 424&nbsp;BC) was a [[List of monarchs of Persia#Achaemenid Empire (559–334/327 BC)|Persian king]] 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]], who in turn was murdered by [[Darius II of Persia|Darius II]] six months later. He is an obscure historical figure known primarily from the writings of [[Ctesias]]. He was the only legitimate son of [[Artaxerxes I]] and [[Damaspia]], and is known to have served as [[crown prince]].

==Reign==
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]], Artaxerxes I's son by his [[concubine]] 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.<ref name=S>S. Zawadzki, "The Circumstances of Darius II's Accession", ''Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux'', 34 (1995-1996), pp.&nbsp;45-49</ref>

Xerxes II was only recognized as king in [[Iran|Persia]] and Sogdianus in [[Elam]]. Ochus' first inscription as [[Darius II of Persia|Darius II]] can be dated to January 10, 423 BC. He was already [[satrap]] of [[Hyrcania]] and was soon recognized by [[medes|Media]], [[Babylonia]] and [[Egypt]]. Xerxes II only ruled forty-five days. He was murdered while drunk by Sogdianus, with help from Pharnacyas and [[Menostanes]], who had great influence over him according to [[Ctesias]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Ctesias the Cnidian|title=Persica|series=48|url=https://www.livius.org/sources/content/ctesias-overview-of-the-works/photius-excerpt-of-ctesias-persica/}}</ref> 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.<ref name=S/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.livius.org/articles/person/xerxes-ii-and-sogdianus/ A more detailed profile of Xerxes II]

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Achaemenid dynasty]]||||424 BC}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Artaxerxes I of Persia|Artaxerxes I]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of kings of Persia|King of Kings of Persia]]|years=424 BC}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Sogdianus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of pharaohs|Pharaoh of Egypt]]|dynasty=[[Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt|XXVII Dynasty]]|years=424 BC}}
{{s-end}}

{{Median and Achaemenid kings}}{{Achaemenid rulers}}{{Babylonian kings}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:5th-century BC Kings of the Achaemenid Empire]]
[[Category:5th-century BC pharaohs]]
[[Category:Kings of the Achaemenid Empire]]
[[Category:Pharaohs of the Achaemenid dynasty of Egypt]]
[[Category:Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt]]
[[Category:424 BC deaths]]
[[Category:5th-century BC murdered monarchs]]
[[Category:Murdered Persian monarchs]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]