Vashti

Vashti was a queen of Persia. She was married to King Ahasuerus, who was also called Xerxes I. She lost her position as queen after she refused to appear before the guests at a royal banquet (Esther 1:9–19).

Neither Vashti nor Esther, who became queen after her, is mentioned in historical records outside the Bible. Because of this, some scholars suggest they may have been lesser wives or concubines (women who lived with the king but held a lower status than wives) who were given the title of queen.

A Greek historian named Plutarch wrote about Persian customs. He said Persian kings usually ate meals with their official wives. However, when the kings wanted to have feasts with heavy drinking, they would send their wives away and bring in their concubines.

Some people use this information to argue that Vashti was only a concubine. But several facts show that Vashti was truly a queen:

• She was asked to wear a royal crown at the banquet.

• She is called "queen" in all references before she was removed from her position.

• The king said her actions would influence all women in the kingdom.

Her refusal to come to the banquet makes more sense if she were a queen, since queens were not usually present at drinking feasts.