King of Persia and Babylonia (423-405). Nicknamed Nothus “bastard”, Darius II acceded to power shortly after the death of his father Artaxerxes I. According to Ctesias, his ascension to power was not peaceful and Darius II had to subdue his half-brothers Xerxes II and Sogdianus. However, neither of his opponents were ever recognized in Babylonian archival sources.