Xerxes I Assassination and Succession

Xerxes II's brief reign was marked by turmoil and intrigue within the Persian Empire. Following his ascension to the throne, he faced immediate threats from within his own family. His illegitimate brother, Sogdianus, orchestrated a plot that led to Xerxes II's assassination. This act was carried out by Pharnacyas and Menostanes while Xerxes was inebriated, highlighting the precarious nature of power in the empire. Sogdianus, having garnered support from various regions, seized the opportunity to claim the throne for himself. His rule, however, was short-lived, lasting only six months and fifteen days. The instability created by Xerxes II's assassination and Sogdianus's subsequent rise to power exemplified the fragility of leadership in the Persian Empire during this period. The power struggle continued as Sogdianus was ultimately captured by his half-brother, Ochus, who had rebelled against him. In a calculated move to solidify his claim to the throne, Ochus executed Sogdianus by suffocation in ash, a method chosen to avoid the more traditional forms of execution such as the sword, poison, or starvation. Following this, Ochus adopted the royal name Darius II. His ascension marked the end of the brief power vacuum that had emerged after Xerxes II's assassination. Darius II's reign would go on to stabilize the empire, but the events surrounding Xerxes II's death and the subsequent succession highlight the intense rivalries and the often violent nature of political power in ancient Persia.