The son of Darius, Xerxes I, succeeded him.
Details
Primary person: Ahasuerus
Most scholars identify Ahasuerus in Esther with Xerxes I (486–465 BC). The description of his vast empire (127 provinces in EST 1:1) and opulent court aligns with Herodotus’ portrayal of Xerxes’ wealth and campaigns (Histories 7–9). The Greek form of Xerxes (Xerxes) matches the Hebrew Achashverosh via the Old Persian Xšayārša. The account of the book of Esther, with its Persian court intrigue and reference to Susa (Shushan), fits Xerxes I’s reign. No ancient sources explicitly name Xerxes as Ahasuerus, but the linguistic and historical fit is strong. The absence of precise dates in Esther allows flexibility, but Xerxes I is the consensus. Xerxes I preceded Artaxerxes I, his son. Thus, Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) in Esther is not the same person as Artaxerxes in Ezra or Nehemiah. EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCES:
Babylonian contract tablets dated to Darius I’s reign (522–486 BC) cease in late 486 BC (around October/November), and tablets dated to “Year 1 of Xerxes, King of Persia and Media” begin shortly thereafter, marking his accession in late 486 BC. The transition is seamless, indicating Xerxes’ immediate recognition as king.
[Shulman date p143]
[Ussher date p119]