Artaxerxes (Artaxšacā) IV Arses (Persian: اردشيرچهارم) (Old Persian: File:OldPersian-A.svgFile:OldPersian-RA.svgFile:OldPersian-TA.svgFile:OldPersian-XA.svgFile:OldPersian-SHA.svgFile:OldPersian-SSA.svg), was king of Persia between 338 BC and 336 BC. He was the youngest son of King Artaxerxes III and Atossa and was not expected to succeed to the throne of Persia. His unexpected rise to the throne came in 338 BC as a result of the murder of his father and most of his family by Bagoas, the powerful Vizier of Persia who had recently fallen in Artaxerxes' disfavor. Bagoas sought to remain in office by replacing Artaxerxes with his son Arses (Artaxerxes IV), whom he thought easier to control. Arses remained little more than a puppet-king during the two years of his reign, while Bagoas acted as