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[[File:Nabucodonosor IV.jpg|thumb|Statue of Nebuchadnezzar IV]]

'''Nebuchadnezzar IV''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|n|ɛ|b|j|ʊ|k|ə|d|ˈ|n|ɛ|z|ər}}) (fl. 520s BC), also known as '''Arakha''', was a self-proclaimed King of [[Babylon]].<ref>[http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Families/Family/987 Ancient Worlds.net] Nebuchadnezzar IV</ref>  Arakha was an Armenian who was the son of Haldita.  However, he claimed to be the son of the previous [[king of Babylon]], [[Nabonidus]], and renamed himself Nebuchadnezzar IV. His rebellion against the Persian king, [[Darius I]], which commenced around 522 BC, was short-lived and by 520 BC it had been suppressed by Intaphrenes, Darius's [[bow (weapon)|bow]] carrier.

==Biography==
In 522 BC, with the disturbances that occurred after the death of [[Cambyses II]] and the proclamation of [[Bardiya]] as King, the [[Armenians]] revolted. Darius I sent an Armenian named [[Dâdarši]] to end the revolt, later replacing him with the [[Persian people|Persian]] Vaumisa who defeated the Armenians in 521 BC. Around the same time, another Armenian named Arakha (meaning '[[crown prince]]' in [[Armenian language|Armenian]]) claimed to be the son of the previous king of Babylon, Nabonidus, and renamed himself Nebuchadnezzar IV. His rebellion was short-lived and was suppressed by Intaphrenes, Darius's bow carrier.

According to [[Herodotus]], <ref name=her1>Herodotus III, 70</ref> Intaphrenes was one of the seven who helped Darius I usurp the throne from Bardiya, who had usurped the throne from Cambyses II, for seven months in 522 BCE. Although that fact has come up for debate in recent years. Intaphrenes was also immediately put to death after the insurrection for trying to enter the King's palace while he was lying with his wife. <ref name=her2>Herodotus III, 118</ref> During the siege of Babylon, <ref>Herodutus III 152-160</ref> Zopyros, son of Megabyzos (who had been one of the seven usurpers <ref name=her1/>), mutilated himself to gain the trust of the [[Babylonians]] and gained entrance to the near impenetrable fortress.

After a period of time, Zopyros had earned their trust so much that he was entrusted with the keys to all the gates. When that day arrived, Zopyros opened the gates and let the Persian king, Darius, and his forces in and victory was assured. As to whether or not Zopyros was his bow carrier, there is no mention. However, the name Intaphrenes was never mentioned again by Herodotus after Intaphrenes's death, <ref name=her2/> nor any other Intaphrenes.

The siege started soon after Darius I's accession to the throne in 521 BC and lasted more than a year and seven months, <ref>Herodotus III, 152</ref> bringing the siege to an end in the year 520 BC.

==See also==
*[[Orontid Dynasty]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/arakha/arakha.html Nebuchadnezzar IV (Arakha)], livius.org

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{{Succession box|title=[[Kings of Babylon|King of Babylon]]|before=[[Nebuchadnezzar III]]|after=Office abolished|years=521 BC}}
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[[Category:Babylonian kings]]
[[Category:Ancient Armenian people]]
[[Category:6th-century BC rulers]]