Category:Persian Kings (subject)

Persian Kings reigned from the 6th to the 4th century over Judea.

List of Persian Kings, and years in office

< Babylonian Kings >

• Cyrus the Great, 559 - 530 BCE
  • Conquered Babylon (and Judah) in 539 BCE.
  • Returned the vessels of the Jerusalem Temple to the Davidic King Sheshbazzar, and allowed him to go back to Jerusalem.

• Cambyses II, 530 - 522 BCE
  • Added Egypt to the Persian Empire in 525 BCE.

< Bardiya, 522 BCE >

• Darius I, 522 BCE - 486 BCE
  • Consolidate the Persian Empire by dividing it into semi-autonomous provinces.
  • Led the first unsuccessful invasion of Greece, which ended with the defeat at Marathon in 490 BCE.
  • Granted the construction of the Second Temple under the dual leadership of the Davidic Zerubbabel and the Zadokite Joshua.

• Xerses I, 486 - 465 BCE
  • Led the second unsuccessful invasion of Greece, which ended with the defeat at Salamis.

• Artaxerses I, 465 - 424 BCE
  • Appointed Nehemiah as governor of Judah in 445 BCE.

< Xerses II, 424 BCE; and Sogdianus, 424 - 423 BCE >

• Darius II, 423-404 BCE
  • Sided with the Spartans against the Athenians.
  • Nehemiah's second mission and beginnings of the Samaritan schism (?)
  • Mentioned in the Elephantine Papyri

• Artaxerses II, 404 - 358 BCE
  • Lost Egypt but defeated the Spartan-Egyptian invasion of Phoenicia.
  • Ezra's mission (?)

• Artaxerses III, 358 - 338 BCE
  • In 343 BCE suppressed a rebellion in Cyprus and Sidon, and reconquered Egypt.

< Arses, 338 - 336 BCE >

• Darius III, 336 - 330 BCE
  • Was repeatedly defeated in battle by Alexander the Great, who conquered the Persian Empire.

< Alexander the Great>

Persian Kings in ancient sources

Persian Kings in Scholarship

Persian Kings in Fiction

Related categories

• Persian Period
• Nehemiah / Ezra

External links