Ochus then persuaded Ariaspes that he had offended his father, and was about to be put to a cruel and ignominious death, whereupon that prince in despair committed suicide.

His elder brothers thus removed, there still remained one rival, whom Ochus feared.

This was Arsames, one of his half-brothers, an illegitimate son of Artaxerxes, who stood high in his favor.

Assassination was the weapon employed to get rid of this rival.

It is said that this last blow was too much for the aged and unhappy king, who died of grief on receiving intelligence of the murder.
Artaxerxes was about the weakest of all the Persian monarchs.