BELSHAZZAR

Akkadian BEL-SHAR-USUR,
Greek BALTASAR OR BALTHASAR.

Corregent of Babylon at whose feast the prophet Daniel, interpreting the handwriting on the wall ("MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN") foretold the destruction of the city (539).

Belshazzar had been known only from the Book of Daniel (chapter 5) and from Xenophon´s Cyropaedia until 1854 when references to him were found in contemporary Babylonian inscriptions.

He was the eldest son of Nabonidus, king of Babylon (555-539) and of Nitocris who was perhaps a daughter if Nebuchadrezzar. When Nabonidus went into exile (550) he entrusted Belshazzar with the throne and the major part of his army.

Belshazzar administered the government, his owen estates, and those of his father, though famine and economic setbacks occurred prior to his father´s return (c 540).

Belshazzar died after Babylon fell without resistance to the Persian general Gobryas (Oct 12, 539).