Sogdianus of Persia

Sogdianos ( Sogdyậna; † 423 BC) was in the year 423 BC a little over six months Persian Great King of the dynasty of the Achaemenids.

After the death of the great king Artaxerxes I., his son Xerxes II had ascended the throne. According to Ctesias of Cnidus conspired against this, however, his half-brother Sogdianos ( so the Greek form of the name ), who had assassinated Xerxes after only a few weeks and seized power themselves. Counter Sogdianos but rose soon after, another half-brother of Xerxes called Ochos. Sogdianos was finally overthrown and murdered Ochus as Darius II ascended the throne.

However, the credibility of Ctesias is rather low. Due to the depiction in Babylonian sources, it is likely that after the death of Artaxerxes for a short time were three kings: Xerxes, Sogdianos and Darius, who raised all claim to the throne, where Darius could ultimately prevail.