"I am Cyrus, king of the world..."- Cyrus II. It is not often that one is born a man and dies as a god, but the life and actions of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, is mythic and grand even without the hyperbole. Born as a Persian in a time where that meant nothing, he would go on to defy his overlords and forge the first expansive empire of the ancient world. While his birth is lost to history, and his death glorified him as a god to the Persian people, his life was relatively well chronicled through his own making and that of his children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately, the exact date of birth of Cyrus II has been lost, but the best known date of birth is either around 600 BCE, or 576 BCE. Like many other kings …show more content…
However, in 553 BCE Cyrus rallied the peoples of Persia and led an uprising against the Median, and his grandfather Astyages. Astyages’ dream, or nightmare rather, came true in 546 BCE when Cyrus II conquered Media and took the crown, claiming himself “King of Persia,” rather than that of Media. The first of many acts which shows both the power of Cyrus, and his humility. Rather than taking the title of his grandfather, as is the tradition, he instead opted to name a new empire centered around those who rebelled with him. Although he had conquered Median, Cyrus was far from finished. The Four Kingdoms of Lydia, Babylon, Egypt, and Median were the powerhouses of the near-east during Classical Antiquity, and had a strong defensive alliance amongst them. In order to keep the empire he had just established, Cyrus had to continue his campaign and conquer the remaining three kingdoms. In 547 BCE the Lydians attacked the newly found Achaemenid Empire, and by 546 BCE Cyrus had conquered their lands. Next was Babylon, and in 539 BCE Cyrus had annexed the Babylonian empire of Chaldean without “spilling a drop of blood.” Later that same month, Cyrus entered Babylon and seized the crown and claimed the title of “"King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the four corners of the world.” Before he could go on to conquer Egypt, Cyrus had died. However, before …show more content…
His life’s achievements earn him praise even today, commonly being called “the father of the Iranian Nation,” and the founder of the first world empire. He was the first to earn the title, “The Great,” and set the standard for how emperor’s should operate. Without Cyrus II, Cyrus the Great, who knows if we would’ve tested the limits of how far a single person can exert their influence. His is an impressive example for all of those who wish to do the
Unfortunately, the exact date of birth of Cyrus II has been lost, but the best known date of birth is either around 600 BCE, or 576 BCE. Like many other kings …show more content…
However, in 553 BCE Cyrus rallied the peoples of Persia and led an uprising against the Median, and his grandfather Astyages. Astyages’ dream, or nightmare rather, came true in 546 BCE when Cyrus II conquered Media and took the crown, claiming himself “King of Persia,” rather than that of Media. The first of many acts which shows both the power of Cyrus, and his humility. Rather than taking the title of his grandfather, as is the tradition, he instead opted to name a new empire centered around those who rebelled with him. Although he had conquered Median, Cyrus was far from finished. The Four Kingdoms of Lydia, Babylon, Egypt, and Median were the powerhouses of the near-east during Classical Antiquity, and had a strong defensive alliance amongst them. In order to keep the empire he had just established, Cyrus had to continue his campaign and conquer the remaining three kingdoms. In 547 BCE the Lydians attacked the newly found Achaemenid Empire, and by 546 BCE Cyrus had conquered their lands. Next was Babylon, and in 539 BCE Cyrus had annexed the Babylonian empire of Chaldean without “spilling a drop of blood.” Later that same month, Cyrus entered Babylon and seized the crown and claimed the title of “"King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the four corners of the world.” Before he could go on to conquer Egypt, Cyrus had died. However, before …show more content…
His life’s achievements earn him praise even today, commonly being called “the father of the Iranian Nation,” and the founder of the first world empire. He was the first to earn the title, “The Great,” and set the standard for how emperor’s should operate. Without Cyrus II, Cyrus the Great, who knows if we would’ve tested the limits of how far a single person can exert their influence. His is an impressive example for all of those who wish to do the