Esther

King Xerxes held a massive banquet and later became angry with Queen Vashti for refusing to appear before him, leading to her removal and replacement by Esther, a Jewish orphan. Esther's cousin Mordecai discovered a plot to assassinate the king and reported it to Esther, who then informed the king. However, Mordecai's refusal to bow to the king's advisor Haman led to a decree to annihilate the Jews. Esther, with Mordecai's urging, risked her life to plead with the king for mercy, and after a series of events, including a banquet where Haman's true intentions were revealed, the king ordered Haman's execution and allowed Esther and Mordecai to write a new decree granting the Jews the right to defend themselves. The Jews successfully defended themselves against their enemies, and the events led to the establishment of the festival of Purim.