Arses of Persia

Arses (Old Persian: ; Ancient Greek: ), also known by his regnal name Artaxerxes IV (; Old Persian: Artaxšaçāʰ; Ancient Greek: ), was the twelfth AchaemenidKing of Kings from 338 to 336 BC.

Arses ascended the throne, after his father Artaxerxes III—who had caused a resurgence of the Persian Empire—was poisoned by the eunuch Bagoas. The latter put Arses on the throne with the expectation of being able to control him. With the weakening of the Achaemenid Empire from the assassination of Artaxerxes III and the succession of Arses, the Greek league sent troops into Asia in 336.

Arses, in an attempt to free himself from Bagoas' influences, tried to have the eunuch poisoned; but did not succeed, instead succumbing to poison himself at the orders of Bagoas. Bagoas put Arses's cousin Darius III on the throne after him.