Cyrus the Great

Founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire and ruled its many peoples with a tolerant policy.

Life

Vassal of Media

Cyrus came from the Achaemenid family of Anshan in Persia and was at first a vassal of the Median kingdom. In the mid-6th century BCE, Western Asia was divided among four powers, Media, Lydia, the Neo-Babylonian Empire and Egypt, and Persia was only a local force in the southwest of the Iranian Plateau, long under Median suzerainty.

Three Wars Win Western Asia

C. 550 BCE he defeated the Median king Astyages and took his place; he then marched west and crushed Croesus of Lydia, annexing Asia Minor; in 539 BCE he entered Babylon almost without bloodshed, ending the Neo-Babylonian kingdom. He allowed the deported Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.

Tolerance and Empire

Cyrus is known for preserving local religions and institutions, and the so-called Cyrus Cylinder is often cited as evidence of his tolerant rule, but it is essentially still a conqueror's proclamation. The empire he built joined Western Asia, Iran and Central Asia into one, and its system of satrapies and post roads was further developed by his successors.

Legacy

Cyrus was already famous in antiquity: the Greek writer Xenophon portrayed him as the model of an ideal monarch, and the biblical Book of Isaiah even calls him God's "anointed," an extremely rare honor for a non-Jewish ruler. The empire he founded was the largest state in the world at the time. Modern Iranians regard him as a national symbol, but calling the Cyrus Cylinder "the first declaration of human rights" is a politicized modern exaggeration.

Major works & achievements

• Defeated in turn Media, Lydia, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire
• Allowed the Jews to return home and rebuild the Temple
• Left the Cyrus Cylinder inscription
• Built the royal capital of Pasargadae

Did you know? His tomb still stands at the site of Pasargadae in Iran; according to ancient historians, Alexander ordered it restored during his eastern campaign.

Key dates

• 559 BCEBecomes King of Anshan
• 550 BCEDefeated Media and took its place
• 547 BCEDefeats Croesus, King of Lydia
• 546 BCEConquers the Greek cities of Asia Minor
• 539 BCETakes the city of Babylon
• 538 BCEAllowed the Jews to return home and rebuild the Temple
• 530 BCECampaigned east into Central Asia and was killed in battle