apr 1, 485 BC - Conspiracy against Xerxes

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Queen Esther wife of Xerxes Chronological, Historical and Archaeological Evidence by Gerard Gertoux

The Book of Esther places the conspiracy against Xerxes in 485 BCE and the attempted genocide against the Jews, followed by the appointment of Mordecai as vizier in 484 BCE, in the early reign of Xerxes as king (Ezr 4:6) and not at the start of his co-regency with Darius I (from 496 BCE).

According to the book of Esther there was a plot to kill Xerxes which was thwarted in the 11th year of his reign, we read: Bigthan and Teresh, two officials of the king's court — the porters — were outraged and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. But the thing came to be known to Mordecai, and he soon revealed to Esther the queen. Then Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. The case was therefore sought and finally discovered, and both were hanged on a pole (...) Shortly afterwards (...) In the 1st month, that is the month of Nisan, of the 12th year of King Ahasuerus (Est 2:21-3:7).

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Esther 2

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana[b] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

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