Vashti was the queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). She was invited to appear during the king's feast but refused, ultimately leading to her dethronement. Esther (Queen) became her successor.
Esther 1:9On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,Esther 1:10to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.Esther 1:11But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.Esther 1:12Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;Esther 1:13and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),Esther 1:14“What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”Esther 1:15Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.Esther 1:16For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’Esther 1:17Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.Esther 1:18“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.Esther 1:19When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”Esther 1:20This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:Esther 1:21for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
Esther 2:1Then the king’s servants who served him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.Esther 2:2Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women’s house, to the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;Esther 2:3and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.Esther 2:4There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Esther 2:7So, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai), Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.