Arses of Persia

Arses 𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎣
Probable portrait of Arses, wearing the Egyptian Pharaonic crown.[1]
King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire
Reign	338–336 BC
Predecessor	Artaxerxes III
Successor	Darius III
Pharaoh of Egypt
Reign	338–336 BC
Predecessor	Artaxerxes III
Successor	Darius III
Died	336 BC
Regnal name Artaxerxes IV
Dynasty	Achaemenid
Father	Artaxerxes III
Mother	Atossa
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Arses (Old Persian: *R̥šā; Ancient Greek: Ἀρσής), also known by his regnal name Artaxerxes IV (/ˌɑːrtəˈzɜːrksiːz/; Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠 Artaxšaçāʰ; Ancient Greek: Ἀρταξέρξης), was the twelfth Achaemenid King 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' cousin Darius III on the throne after him.