Xerxes II, d. 424 B.C., king of ancient Persia (424 B.C.), son of Artaxerxes I. After a reign of 45 days he was murdered by his half brother Sogdianus. Xerxes II (Old Persian Khšayâršâ) and Sogdianus: kings of the ancient Persian empire. Xerxes ruled forty five days in the first months of 423 BC; Sogdianus ruled for six months and fifteen days

Ctesias states that Xerxes was the only lawful son of king Artaxerxes I and queen Damaspia (who is otherwise unknown); Xerxes had been appointed as crown prince. When Artaxerxes and Damaspia died on the same day, he succeeded to the throne. The last cuneiform tablet (found in Nippur) from the reign of Artaxerxes I is dated December 24, 424; there are no tablets from the reign of Xerxes II.

However, one of his half-brothers, Sogdianus, the son of Artaxerxes and a Babylonian woman named Alogyne, conspired against him. Ctesias mentions two other conspirators by name: Pharnacyas and Menostanes. On the forty-fifth day of his reign, Xerxes was killed when he was drunk. Sogdianus became king.

On hearing the news, another half-brother, Ochus, the son of Artaxerxes and another Babylonian woman named Cosmartidene, felt dishonored, because he was higher in rank. After all, he was not only a bastard son of Artaxerxes, but he was also his son-in-law, because he was married to Parysatis, the daughter of Artaxerxes and a third Babylonian concubine named Andia. He refused to do homage to Sogdianus; instead, he conspired with the commander of the cavalry, Arbarios, and became king. His throne name was Darius II. Sogdianus had been king for six months and fifteen days. His co-conspirator Pharnacyas was executed and Menostanes committed suicide.

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