Belshazzar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belshazzar |
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| Crown prince of Babylon | |
The Nabonidus Chronicle, an ancient Babylonian text which chronicles the reign of Belshazzar's father and also documents the period during which Belshazzar was regent in Babylon
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| Died | 12 October 539 BC (?) Babylon (?) |
| Akkadian | Bēl-šar-uṣur |
| Dynasty | Chaldean dynasty (matrilineal) (?) |
| Father | Nabonidus |
| Mother | Nitocris (?) (A daughter of Nebuchadnezzar II) (?) |
Belshazzar (Babylonian cuneiform: 
Bēl-šar-uṣur, meaning "Bel, protect the king") was the son and crown prince of Nabonidus. Nabonidus was the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (r.556–539 BC). Belshazzar might have been the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar II (r.605–562 BC) through his mother. However, this connection is not fully proven.
Belshazzar played a big part in the change of power that removed King Labashi-Marduk (r.556 BC) and brought Nabonidus to the throne in 556 BC. Belshazzar gained a lot from this change. He took over Labashi-Marduk's lands and wealth. This suggests he was the main person behind the plan. By making his father king, Belshazzar became the next in line for the throne. Since Nabonidus was quite old, Belshazzar likely expected to become king himself in a few years.
Nabonidus left Babylon from 553 BC to 543 or 542 BC. He lived in Tayma in Arabia for reasons that are not fully known. During his father's ten-year absence, Belshazzar acted as the ruler, or regent, in Babylon. Some historians call this time a "co-regency." Belshazzar was given many royal powers. He could grant special rights, lead parts of the army, and receive gifts and promises. However, he was always called the crown prince (mār šarri, meaning "son of the king"). He never took the title of king (šarru). Belshazzar also could not lead the Babylonian New Year's festival. This was a special right only for the king. Belshazzar's exact fate is not known. Many believe he was killed during Cyrus the Great's Persian invasion of Babylonia in 539 BC. This likely happened when Babylon fell on 12 October 539 BC.
Belshazzar is a main character in the story of Belshazzar's feast in the Biblical Book of Daniel. Scholars see this story as a work of historical fiction. In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar is not shown as evil. For example, he rewards Daniel for explaining "the writing on the wall." But in later Jewish stories, Belshazzar was shown as a cruel ruler who treated the Jewish people badly.
Contents
Belshazzar's Life and Role
Family Background
Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus. Nabonidus was an older official who became the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. We don't know for sure how Nabonidus became king. One idea is that Nabonidus married one of Nebuchadnezzar II's daughters. If this is true, it would explain why Nabonidus became king. It would also explain why later stories say Belshazzar was related to Nebuchadnezzar. The Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible calls Belshazzar Nebuchadnezzar's grandson.
Some historians think that the idea of Belshazzar being related to Nebuchadnezzar was just royal propaganda. This means it was a story made up to make the family seem more important. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus mentioned a "last great queen" of Babylon named Nitocris. This name is not found in Babylonian records. Some think Nitocris might have been Nabonidus's wife and Belshazzar's mother.
Important old texts about Belshazzar's time include the Nabonidus Chronicle, the Cyrus Cylinder, and the Verse Account of Nabonidus. These documents were written after the Achaemenid Empire conquered Babylon. So, they tend to favor Cyrus and speak negatively about Nabonidus and Belshazzar.
Rise to Power
Belshazzar's father, Nabonidus, became king in May 556 BC. This happened after a plot that removed and killed the previous king, Labashi-Marduk. Nabonidus himself may not have planned to become king.
After his father became king, Belshazzar became a very important and wealthy person. He took over the estates and wealth of Labashi-Marduk's family. This suggests that Belshazzar was the main planner of the plot. He gained a lot of land and resources across Babylonia. For example, he owned a farming area near Uruk. Since Nabonidus was old, Belshazzar likely expected to become king soon.
Ruling as Regent
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In May 553 BC, Nabonidus left Babylon to campaign in the west. He went to Arabia and conquered cities like Tayma. Nabonidus stayed in Tayma for about ten years. He did not return to Babylon until 543 or 542 BC. During this long absence, Belshazzar was in charge of Babylonia.
Even though Belshazzar was the effective ruler, he never officially became king. He was always called the "crown prince" or "son of the king." Only later Greek and Jewish stories mistakenly called him king. Documents from that time were still dated by Nabonidus's reign, not Belshazzar's.
Belshazzar also could not lead the important Babylonian New Year's festival. This festival was not celebrated while Nabonidus was away. It only started again after Nabonidus returned. Belshazzar was also not mentioned in building inscriptions. These usually named the king responsible for construction.
However, Belshazzar did have some royal powers. He received special food offerings meant for gods and kings. Temples also made offerings to him, just like they did for the king. Some promises and oaths were sworn by both Nabonidus and Belshazzar. Belshazzar could also grant royal privileges, like allowing land to be used. This shows he had great power in running the government. But Nabonidus's orders were always more important than Belshazzar's.
During Belshazzar's time as regent, the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great was growing stronger. Belshazzar became very aware of this threat. He spent resources on defenses in Sippar. In 546 BC, Cyrus invaded Lydia, which was an ally of Babylon. Belshazzar took a defensive position with his army. But no help was sent to Lydia, and Cyrus quickly conquered it. This meant the Neo-Babylonian Empire was now surrounded by a powerful enemy.
It is thought that Belshazzar might have brought back traditional Babylonian religion. This was different from Nabonidus, who favored the moon god Sîn. Belshazzar seemed to work to restore the god Marduk's importance. When Nabonidus returned to Babylon, Belshazzar lost some of his administrative duties. Officials he had appointed were also dismissed.
What Happened to Belshazzar?
Belshazzar remained the crown prince and planned successor. But his exact role after Nabonidus returned is not clear. His location is also unknown. He was likely stationed away from Babylon, perhaps leading the army along the border.
Belshazzar took part in Babylon's defense against Cyrus the Great in 539 BC. After a big victory at the battle of Opis, the Persian army entered Babylon without a fight on 12 October. Nabonidus was captured. Belshazzar's fate is not known for certain. Many believe he was killed by the Persians when Babylon fell on 12 October. He might have been killed at the Battle of Opis, captured and executed, or sent away with his father.
Belshazzar in Stories
The Book of Daniel's Story
In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar (Hebrew: בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, Bēlšaʾṣṣar) is important in the story of Belshazzar's feast. This story shows what happens when a king does not respect God. During a feast, Babylonians drink from holy cups taken from Yahweh's temple. "King" Belshazzar then sees a hand writing mysterious words on a wall: mene, mene, tekel, upharsin.
Daniel explains that the writing is a message from Yahweh, the God of Israel. It says that Babylon will fall. Daniel tells Belshazzar that because he did not honor God, his kingdom will be given to the Medes and Persians. Belshazzar is killed that night, and Darius the Mede takes over the kingdom.
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Most scholars agree that the Book of Daniel was written around the 160s BC. The story of Belshazzar's feast is a work of historical fiction. This means some details are not exactly true to history. For example, Belshazzar is called the king of Babylon and "son" of Nebuchadnezzar. In reality, he was the son of Nabonidus and never became king himself. Also, the story says Darius the Mede conquered Babylon, but history shows it was the Persians. These differences are common in stories meant to teach a lesson, not just report facts.
Later Jewish Traditions
In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar is not shown as a bad person. He even rewards Daniel. However, later Jewish writings, like the Talmud and the Midrash, describe Belshazzar as a cruel ruler. They say he oppressed the Jewish people. Many passages in the Prophets were seen as referring to him and other Babylonian kings.
For example, the passage from Amos 9 says, "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him." The lion was said to be Nebuchadnezzar, and the bear, equally fierce, was Belshazzar. Babylonian kings were often grouped together as rulers who were against Israel and were therefore doomed.
Later Jewish stories even give more details about Belshazzar's death. They say that Cyrus and Darius were palace guards. Belshazzar was scared by the writing on the wall. He ordered his guards to kill anyone who tried to enter the palace that night, even if they claimed to be the king. Belshazzar then left the palace secretly because he felt sick. When he tried to return, the guards would not let him in. He told them he was the king, but they said, "Has not the king ordered us to kill anyone who tries to enter, even if they claim to be the king?" So, Cyrus and Darius used a heavy object to kill him.
See also
In Spanish: Baltasar de Babilonia para niños
- Cylinders of Nabonidus
- Cultural depictions of Belshazzar
- List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources
