The Conquest Of Cyrus

A modern military strategist would see Cyrus as a military officer guilty of mission creep. Cyrus expanded what was said to be a purely defensive mission into the triumphant establishment of an empire. Cyrus was not satisfied by simply pushing back the advancing Assyrian army, he wanted to annihilate them permanently. He was able to act for his own agenda despite being by all means a hired mercenary or at least a mercenary by obligation to his family. How is it then that Cyrus was able to turn his defense mission for Cyaxares into an offensive charge for his own glory? Cyrus is able to turn his defenses mission against the aggressive Assyrian army into a conquest for all of Asia by amassing an army large enough and loyal enough to act on …show more content…
The first incident occurs when Cyrus asks permission from Cyaxares to launch the first campaign against the neighboring countries. Cyrus through his oration convinces Cyaxares that being offensive is the best strategy to avoid harm. Cyaxares eventually concedes and allows Cyrus to go forward, however Cyrus waits and says no to Cyaxares initial remark. Cyrus then waits and sends the following message, “Report this to him in front of everyone. Nevertheless since it seems [good] to him, I shall now march” (p.109). Cyrus had disregard Cyaxares initial demand for him to march and made it a point to show that he will go when he wishes clearly showing Cyaxares he has power. This moment also gives Cyrus the opportunity to start his military operations offensively as apposed to defensively per his orders. Secondly Cyrus clearly demonstrates that he has power of Cyaxares through the following quote, “ Do not send for him with threats; and when you declare you are alone, do not deliver threats to large numbers, lest you teach the to think nothing of you” (p.134) This is a clear threat by Cyrus in which he indicates two things to Cyaxares. The first being that Cyaxares is alone and that his own men chose Cyrus over him. The second being that because Cyaxares has no men, he has no power and that therefore leads to people thinking of “nothing” of him. This interaction clearly shows the paradigm shift, where Cyrus has become the one in charge, the commanding officer. Finally there exists an episode in which it is explicitly show that the soldiers only follow the orders of Cyrus and think nothing of Cyaxares. “The Medes followed Cyaxares, (for Cyrus gave them a nod to do so)” (p.174) Cyaxares own men would have rather followed Cyrus had he not corrected them. Cyrus destroys any shred of