Biography of Cyrus the Great

Biography of Cyrus the Great : The King and founder of the Persian Empire.

• Occupation: King of the Persian Empire
• Born: 580 BC in Anshan, Iran
• Died:530 BC in Pasargadae, IranReign: 559 – 530 BC

  

• Best known for: Founding the Persian Empire

Biography of Cyrus the Great :

Early Life

Cyrus the Incomparable was brought into the world around 580 BC in the place that is known for Persia which is today the nation of Iran. His dad was The best Cambyses I of Anshan. There isn’t much of written history on the early existence of Cyrus, yet there is a legend told by the Greek student of history Herodotus.

Legend of Cyrus’ Youth

According to the legend, Cyrus was the grandson of the Median King Astyages. When Cyrus was born, Astyages had a dream that Cyrus would one day overthrow him. He ordered that the baby Cyrus should be left in the mountains to die. The baby, however, was rescued by some herding folk who raised him as their own.

When Cyrus turned ten, it became apparent that he was noble born. King Astyages heard of the child and realized that the boy had not died. He then allowed Cyrus to return home to his birth parents.

Founding an Empire

Around the age of twenty-one Cyrus took over the throne as king of Anshan. At this time Anshan was still a vassal state to the Median Empire. Cyrus led a revolt against the Median Empire and by 549 BC he had completely conquered Media. He now called himself the “King of Persia.”

Lands that were eventually united under Persian rule
Median Empire by William Robert Shepherd
(Click map to see larger picture)

A Good King

Cyrus the Great saw himself as a liberator of people and not a conqueror. As long as his subjects didn’t revolt and paid their taxes, he treated them equally regardless of religion or ethnic background. He agreed to let the people he conquered maintain their religion and local customs. This was a different way of ruling from previous empires such as the Babylonians and the Assyrians.

As part of his role as liberator, Cyrus let the Jews return home to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon. There were more than 40,000 Jewish people held in captivity in Babylon at the time. Because of this, he earned the name “the anointed of the Lord” from the Jewish people.

Death

Cyrus died in 530 BC. He had ruled for 30 years. He was succeeded by his son Cambyses I. There are different accounts as to how Cyrus died. Some said he died in battle, while others said he died quietly in his capital city.

Interesting Facts about Cyrus the Great

• The Persian Empire is often called the Achaemenid Empire.
• The capital city of his empire was the city of Pasargadae in modern day Iran. His tomb and monument can be seen there today.
• The Cyrus cylinder describes how Cyrus improved the lives of the Babylonians. The United Nations declared it a “declaration of human rights.”
• Cyrus developed an elite group of 10,000 army troops that were later called the Immortals.
• To send messages quickly around his large empire Cyrus formed a postal system.

read more: 

Biography of Constantine the Great