# Sogdianus

_Brief ruler of the Achaemenid Empire (423 BC)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/sogdianus
Last updated: 2026-11-09

> Sogdianus was briefly a ruler of the Achaemenid Empire for a period in 424–423 BC. His short rule—lasting not much more than six months—and the little recognition of his kingdom are known primarily from the writings of Ctesias; who is known to be unreliable. He was reportedly an illegitimate son of Artaxerxes I by his concubine Alogyne of Babylon.

## Quick facts

- **Place of birth:** Achaemenid Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298631#P19))
- **Place of death:** Persepolis ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298631#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Achaemenid Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298631#P27))
- **Occupation:** sovereign ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298631#P106))
- **Positions held:** pharaoh; King of Kings ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298631#P39))

## Questions

**What positions has Sogdianus held?**  
Positions held by Sogdianus include: pharaoh; King of Kings.

## Related

- [Darius III](https://diginpl.com/people/darius-iii)
- [Darius the Great](https://diginpl.com/people/darius-the-great)
- [Xerxes I](https://diginpl.com/people/xerxes-i)
- [Darius II](https://diginpl.com/people/darius-ii)
- [Artaxerxes III](https://diginpl.com/people/artaxerxes-iii)
- [Bardiya](https://diginpl.com/people/bardiya)
- [Cyrus the Great](https://diginpl.com/people/cyrus-the-great)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Sogdianus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogdianus) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q298631](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298631) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Daric coin of the Achaemenid Empire (Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II) (Cropped).jpg by AR VLD (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daric_coin_of_the_Achaemenid_Empire_(Xerxes_II_to_Artaxerxes_II)_(Cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Sogdianus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Daric coin of the Achaemenid Empire (Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II) (Cropped).jpg — AR VLD, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Sogdianus". DigiNepal. Last updated 9 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/sogdianus. Retrieved 9 November 2026.