Damaspia Shahbanu – King Artaxerxes I of the Babylonian Empire’s elusive but powerful Persian Queen who was mentioned in the Bible

Damaspia Shahbanu was the queen consort of King Artaxerxes I of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. She was also the mother of King Xerxes II. However, very little information is known about her. Her origins are elusive. The most famous reference to Damaspia Shahbanu comes from the Bible in Nehemiah 2:6.^[1] While very little known facts about her are known, it is clear that she wielded immense political influence and power in the Achaemenid Persian Empire.^[2]

Damaspia Shahbanu is only mentioned by name by the Greek historian Ctesias in his work, Persians.^[3] However, modern historians generally agree that she existed.^[4] Damaspia Shahbanu’s origins are unknown.^[5] Modern historians believe that she was from the Persian nobility.^[6] They also believe that she was given to King Artaxerxes I of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (r. 465-424 B.C.E.) as part of a marriage alliance.^[7] King Artaxerxes I had several minor wives, but his principal wife was Damaspia Shahbanu.^[8] Therefore, she was the queen consort of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.^[9] Damaspia Shahbanu had a son who would be the future King Xerxes II.^[10]

Modern historians believe that Damaspia Shahbanu and King Artaxerxes I had a very close relationship.^[11] One example of their close relationship is illustrated in Chapter 2 of Nehemiah in the Bible.^[12] In Nehemiah 2:6, King Artaxerxes I gave Nehemiah permission to go to Jerusalem in the presence of his queen.^[13] Modern historians claim that this shows how King Artaxerxes I greatly respected and trusted Damaspia Shahbanu.^[14] King Artaxerxes I and Damaspia Shahbanu also travelled together throughout the Persian Empire.^[15] Damaspia Shahbanu accompanied her husband on his military campaigns.^[16] Thus, modern historians believe that Damaspia Shahbanu wielded immense political influence over King Artaxerxes I and his Persian court.^[17]

In 424 B.C.E., King Artaxerxes I and Damaspia Shahbanu died on the same day.^[18] Their bodies were brought to Persepolis and were buried at Naqsh i Rustam.^[19] Their son, Xerxes II, became the next king of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.^[20] King Xerxes II’s reign was brief. He ruled for only a month until he was assassinated by his half-brother, Sogdianus (King Artaxerxes I’s son by his lesser wife, Alogune).^[21] King Sogdianus ruled for six months until he was assassinated by his half-brother, King Darius II (King Artaxerxes I’s son by his lesser wife, Kosmartydene).^[22] He would rule the Achaemenid Persian Empire for nineteen years.^[23]

Even though very little information is known about Damaspia Shahbanu, it is clear that she had a close relationship with King Artaxerxes I.^[24] In Nehemiah 2:6, she was with him when King Artaxerxes I gave permission for Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem.^[25] Damaspia Shahbanu also traveled with King Artaxerxes I and went with him on his military campaigns.^[26] Therefore, she wielded immense influence and power as King Artaxerxes I’s queen consort and as the mother of his heir, Xerxes II.^[27] Thus, she was the most powerful woman during King Artaxerxes I’s reign.^[28] Hopefully, with more scholarship, more details about this little-known queen may be brought to light.

Sources:

Deal, B. L. (2007). Divine queenship and Psalm 45. Texas Christian University. Dissertation. [PDF].

Herzfeld, E. (1947). Zoroaster and His World. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Mark, J. J. (24 April 2020). “Kings of the Ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire”. Brewminate Official Portal. Retrieved on October 15, 2024 from https://brewminate.com/kings-of-the-ancient-persian-achaemenid-empire/.

Rabarijaona, B. (2015). Gender Agenda Matters: Papers of the “Feminist Section” of the International Meetings of The Society of Biblical Literature. (Fischer, I ed.). Cambridge: UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Scriptural Research Institute (9 April 2024). Septuagint – History, Volume 2. (n.p.): Digital Ink Productions.