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Cyrus the Great

Type Figure Region Persia Time c. -600–-530 Also known as 居鲁士二世、Cyrus the Great、Cyrus II、库鲁什

Cyrus the Great (c. 600–530 BCE) founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire, uniting the Persian tribes, overthrowing Median rule, and conquering Lydia an…

Timeline

  1. c. -600–-559Anshan · PersiaCyrus was born into a Persian noble family; after inheriting the throne of Anshan he gradually integrated the Persian tribes, laying the foundation for overthrowing Media and unifying the Iranian Plateau.
  2. -559–-550Ecbatana · MediaCyrus defeated Median king Astyages and brought Media under his rule, becoming hegemon of the Iranian Plateau; the Achaemenid Empire was thereby formally established.
  3. -547–-539Sardis · LydiaCyrus conquered Lydian king Croesus, bringing western Anatolia into the empire, and continued expanding eastward, controlling the tribes of Central Asia.
  4. -539–-530Babylon · BabylonCyrus captured Babylon, freed the captive Jews and allowed them to return to their homeland, governing the multi-ethnic empire with relatively tolerant policies, and established his capital at Pasargadae.

Sources