Darius II

This article is about the ancient king of the Persian Empire. For the video game, see Darius II (video game).

Darius II
The Great King of Persia and Pharaoh of Egypt
Reign	423 BC – 405 BC
Predecessors	Sogdianus
Successor	Amyrtaeus (as Pharaoh of Egypt), Artaxerxes II (as Great King of Persia)
Father	Artaxerxes I

Darius II (Persian: داريوش دوم‎) (Dārayavahuš), was king of the Persian Empire from 423 BC to 405 BC.^[1]

Artaxerxes I, who died on December 25, 424 BC, was followed by his son Xerxes II. After a month and a half Xerxes II was murdered by his brother Secydianus or Sogdianus (the form of the name is uncertain). His illegitimate brother, Ochus, satrap of Hyrcania, rebelled against Sogdianus, and after a short fight killed him, and suppressed by treachery the attempt of his own brother Arsites to imitate his example. Ochus adopted the name Darius (Greek sources often call him Darius Nothos, "Bastard"). Neither the names Xerxes II nor Sogdianus occur in the dates of the numerous Babylonian tablets from Nippur; here effectively the reign of Darius II follows immediately after that of Artaxerxes I.^[2]

Prospective tomb of Darius II of Persia in Naqsh-e Rustam

Historians know little about Darius II's reign. A rebellion by the Medes in 409 BC is mentioned by Xenophon. It does seem that Darius II was quite dependent on his wife Parysatis. In excerpts from Ctesias some harem intrigues are recorded, in which he played a disreputable part.^[2]

It is likely that Ezra and Nehemiah were alive during this monarch's reign, as it was approximately at this time that the new walls of Jerusalem, demolished during the Babylonian period, were rebuilt.^[3]

As long as the power of Athens remained intact he did not meddle in Greek affairs. When in 413 BC, Athens supported the rebel Amorges in Caria, Darius II would not have responded had not the Athenian power been broken in the same year at Syracuse. As a result of that event, Darius II gave orders to his satraps in Asia Minor, Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus, to send in the overdue tribute of the Greek towns and to begin a war with Athens. To support the war with Athens, the Persian satraps entered into an alliance with Sparta. In 408 BC he sent his son Cyrus to Asia Minor, to carry on the war with greater energy. Darius II died in 405 BC, in the nineteenth year of his reign, and was followed as Persian king by Artaxerxes II.^[2]

Issue

Prior to his accession, Darius II was married to the daughter of Gobryas. With the daughter of Gobryas, Darius II had four sons, through whom one of his sons became the father of Artabazanes, who served as King of Media Atropatene in the second half of the 3rd century BC.^[4]^[5]^[6]

By Parysatis: Artaxerxes II; Cyrus the Younger; Oxathres or Oxendares or Oxendras; Artoxexes; Ostanes; Amestris wife of Teritouchmes & then Artaxerxes II; & seven other unnamed children

By other wives: Artostes; The unnamed satrap of Media at 401 B.C.

References

↑ Brill's New Pauly, "Darius".
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Meyer, Eduard (1911). "Darius". In Chisholm, Hugh. Encyclopædia Britannica 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 833.
↑ "The compiler, unable to distinguish between the Persian kings thought "year seven of Darius" meant Darius I. It was impossible, so he rejected it in favour of Artaxerxes, who had already been mentioned in the context of Nehemiah, because the two men were together at the dedication. Ezra really came in year seven of Darius II specially to dedicate the walls and to introduce the new law" from http://www.askwhy.co.uk/judaism/0290Ezra.php extracted 26/5/2011
↑ ARTABAZANES, Encyclopedia Iranica
↑ García Sánchez, M (2005): "La figura del sucesor del Gran Rey en la Persia Aqueménida", in V. Troncoso (ed.), Anejos Gerión 9, La figura del sucesor en las monarquías de época helenística.
↑ Hallock, R (1985): "The evidence of the Persepolis Tablets", en Gershevitch (ed.) The Cambridge History of Iran v. 2, p. 591.

Darius II Achaemenid dynasty Born: ?? Died: 404 BC
Preceded by Sogdianus	The Great King of Persia 423 BC – 404 BC	Succeeded by Artaxerxes II
	Pharaoh of Egypt 423–404	Succeeded by Amyrtaeus

Median and Achaemenid kings

Family tree

Median (728–550 BC)	Deioces Phraortes Madius Cyaxares the Great Astyages

Achaemenid (550–330 BC)	Achaemenes Ariaramnes Arsames Teispes Cyrus I Cambyses I Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) Cambyses II Smerdis Gaumata Darius the Great (Darius I) Xerxes the Great (Xerxes I) Artaxerxes I Xerxes II Sogdianus Darius II Nothus Artaxerxes II Mnemon Artaxerxes III Ochus Artaxerxes IV Arses Darius III Codomannus Artaxerxes V Bessus

Italics indicate kings not directly attested and so possibly legendary.

Pharaohs

Protodynastic to First Intermediate period (<3150–2040 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaohs (male female ♀) uncertain

Protodynastic
(pre-3150 BC)

Lower	Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Mekh Double Falcon

Upper	Scorpion I Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer / Menes

Early Dynastic
(3150–2686 BC)

I	Narmer / Menes Hor-Aha Djer Djet Merneith♀ Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Horus Bird

II	Hotepsekhemwy Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Horus Sa Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy

Old Kingdom
(2686–2181 BC)

III	Nebka Djoser Sekhemkhet Sanakht Khaba Qahedjet Huni

IV	Snefru Khufu Djedefre Khafre Bikheris Menkaure Shepseskaf Thamphthis

V	Userkaf Sahure Neferirkare Kakai Neferefre Shepseskare Niuserre Menkauhor Djedkare Unas

VI	Teti Userkare Pepi I Merenre Nemtyemsaf I Pepi II Merenre Nemtyemsaf II Netjerkare Siptah

1^st Intermediate
(2181–2040 BC)

VII VIII	Menkare Neferkare II Neferkare III Neby Djedkare Shemai Neferkare IV Khendu Merenhor Neferkamin Nikare Neferkare V Tereru Neferkahor Neferkare VI Pepiseneb Neferkamin Anu Qakare Iby Neferkaure Neferkauhor Neferirkare Wadjkare Khuiqer Khui

IX	Meryibre Khety Neferkare VII Nebkaure Khety Setut

X	Meryhathor Neferkare VIII Wahkare Khety Merykare

Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate period (2040–1550 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaohs (male female ♀) uncertain

Middle Kingdom
(2040–1802 BC)

XI	Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV

Nubia	Segerseni Qakare Ini Iyibkhentre

XII	Amenemhat I Senusret I Amenemhat II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhat III Amenemhat IV Sobekneferu♀

2^nd Intermediate
(1802–1550 BC)

XIII	Sekhemrekhutawy Sobekhotep Sonbef Nerikare Sekhemkare Amenemhat V Ameny Qemau Hotepibre Iufni Ameny Antef Amenemhet VI Semenkare Nebnuni Sehetepibre Sewadjkare Nedjemibre Khaankhre Sobekhotep Renseneb Hor Sekhemrekhutawy Khabaw Djedkheperew Sebkay Sedjefakare Wegaf Khendjer Imyremeshaw Sehetepkare Intef Seth Meribre Sobekhotep III Neferhotep I Sihathor Sobekhotep IV Merhotepre Sobekhotep Khahotepre Sobekhotep Wahibre Ibiau Merneferre Ay Merhotepre Ini Sankhenre Sewadjtu Mersekhemre Ined Sewadjkare Hori Merkawre Sobekhotep Mershepsesre Ini II Sewahenre Senebmiu Merkheperre Merkare Sewadjare Mentuhotep Seheqenre Sankhptahi

XIV	Yakbim Sekhaenre Ya'ammu Nubwoserre Qareh Khawoserre 'Ammu Ahotepre Maaibre Sheshi Nehesy Khakherewre Nebefawre Sehebre Merdjefare Sewadjkare III Nebdjefare Webenre Sekheperenre Djedkherewre Bebnum 'Apepi Nuya Wazad Sheneh Shenshek Khamure Yakareb Yaqub-Har

XV	Semqen 'Aper-'Anati Sakir-Har Khyan Apepi Khamudi

XVI	Djehuti Sobekhotep VIII Neferhotep III Mentuhotepi Nebiryraw I Nebiriau II Semenre Bebiankh Sekhemre Shedwast Dedumose I Dedumose II Montuemsaf Merankhre Mentuhotep Senusret IV Pepi III

Abydos	Senebkay Wepwawetemsaf Pantjeny Snaaib

XVII	Rahotep Nebmaatre Sobekemsaf I Sobekemsaf II Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef Nubkheperre Intef Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef Senakhtenre Ahmose Seqenenre Tao Kamose

New Kingdom and Third Intermediate period (1550–664 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaohs (male female ♀) uncertain

New Kingdom
(1550–1070 BC)

XVIII	Ahmose I Amenhotep I Thutmose I Thutmose II Thutmose III Hatshepsut♀ Amenhotep II Thutmose IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Neferneferuaten♀ Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb

XIX	Ramesses I Seti I Ramesses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret♀

XX	Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI

3^rd Intermediate
(1069–664 BC)

XXI	Smendes Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II

XXII	Shoshenq I Osorkon I Shoshenq II Takelot I Osorkon II Shoshenq III Shoshenq IV Pami Shoshenq V Osorkon IV

XXIII	Harsiese A Takelot II Pedubast I Shoshenq VI Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamun Menkheperre Ini

XXIV	Tefnakht Bakenranef

XXV	Piye Shabaka Shebitku Taharqa Tanutamun

Late and Hellenistic periods (664–30 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaohs (male female ♀) uncertain

Late
(664–332 BC)

XXVI	Necho I Psamtik I Necho II Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III

XXVII	Cambyses II Petubastis III Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II

XXVIII	Amyrtaeus

XXIX	Nepherites I Hakor Psammuthes Nepherites II

XXX	Nectanebo I Teos Nectanebo II

XXXI	Artaxerxes III Khabash Arses Darius III

Hellenistic
(332–30 BC)

Argead	Alexander the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV

Ptolemaic	Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Ptolemy IX Soter Ptolemy X Alexander I Ptolemy XI Alexander II Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Berenice IV Cleopatra Ptolemy XV Caesarion

Dynastic genealogies

4^th 11^th 12^th 18^th 19^th 20^th 21^st 25^th 26^th 27^th 30^th 31^st Ptolemaic

List of pharaohs

Darius II

Issue

See also

References