Esther 1:1-3

Queen Vashti Deposed 1This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, Hebrew Ahasuerus; here and throughout Esther the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush That is, the upper Nile region : 2At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,

3and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.