Was King Xerxes that Esther married, the same King Xerxes that attacked the Spartans?

Question

I was wondering if they were the one and the same or if there were more than one King Xerxes. If you claim they are the same please tell me how you know this and cite your source. I want to make certain my info is accurate. I find this to be a highly interesting subject.

Answer 1

King Xerxes was the Greek name for the Persian King Ahasuerus.
Xerxes, son of Darius the Great and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great, was appointed King of Persia by his father because his elder half-brothers, who were born before Darius had become king, died. After his accession in October 485 BC he suppressed the revolts in Egypt and Babylon that had broken out in 486 BC and appointed his brother Achaemenes as governor or satrap over Egypt.
Yes, he was the same one

Answer 2

King Xerxes Esther

Answer 3

Ahasuerus is pretty definitely the Hebrew version of the name Xerxes I in Ezra, which is a much more historical book, trying to place Jewish events into the chronicles of Persian history.

This could mean Ahasuerus is Xerxes in the Book of Esther as well. However the story does not really lend itself to a very easy pinpointing in time. There are no Persian records of Haman, or Vashti, or any great Jewish war. There is a possible reference to Mordecai.

On the other hand the characters are very well developed, and there is a very powerful sense of empathy with the heroine, and the story is very complete and well worked out. That is why many scholars think it is a Jewish novel written between the third and second centuries B.C.E.
you should look in the anchor bible, and also look at courses online on the book of esther:
http://www.bibletexts.com/verses/v-est.htm
http://www.stjohnadulted.org/esther1.htm
you can begin your search there.

Answer 4

Yes, the first Xerxes, Xerxes I of Persia

Answer 5

This is a challenging question, and one that has been confusing me for a very long time.