Bardiya, also known as Smerdis and Tanyoxarces, was a historical figure associated with the Achaemenid Empire rather than a modern city in Nepal. He was identified as the son of Cyrus the Great and the younger brother of Cambyses II, both of whom were Persian kings.
Historical accounts regarding Bardiya's life are sharply divided. Some records suggest he ruled the Achaemenid Empire for several months in 522 BCE. Other perspectives propose that he was impersonated by a magus named Gaumata, who is referred to as Sphendadates by Ctesias, until he was eventually toppled by Darius the Great.