The beautiful wife of King Ahasuerus who reigned in Susa, Persia, from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces. She sacrificed her crown to preserve her modesty. (Esther 1:1-2, 1:9; 1:17-22)
The feast
When Ahasuerus threw his feast in his third year, Vashti gave a feast for the women in the palace. (Esther 1:1-9)
Vashti disobeys a drunken order and is cast out of her husband's presence
On the seventh day of the feast in the palace garden for all people in Susa, the king was drunk and commanded seven eunuchs, Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, to bring her before the king with her royal crown to show the peoples and the princes her beauty. She refused, enraging the king, and he sent out a royal order that was written among the laws of the Persians and Medes that Vashti was never again to come before the King Ahasuerus and that all women will give honor to their husbands. Each province received the order in its own script and language, which Prince Memucan anticipated would cause all women to look at their husbands with contempt. (Esther 1:10-22)
A replacement is sought, and Esther becomes the king's favorite
King Ahasuerus gathered all the beautiful young virgins from all the provinces to the harem in Susa, gave them a year-long beauty regimen, and was won over by Esther more than all the virgins. He set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. (Esther 2:1-18)