The History Of Cyrus

"Brave To Be A King," 3.

Kuru-ush, later known as Koresh or Cyrus, was the Persian king of Anshan;

in the period, 558-553 BC, Cyrus was increasingly in conflict with his Median overlord, Astyages;

after a three-year civil war, Cyrus overthrew Astyages;

he then spent four years defeating counter-uprisings and Turanian incursions "...and extending his rule eastward..." (p. 66);

because of this, Babylon, Egypt, Lydia and Sparta allied against him;

King Croesus of Lydia led an invasion in 546;

Lydia was defeated and annexed but then revolted and was again defeated;

to the west, Cyrus' generals dealt with "...the troublesome Greek colonies of Ionia, Caria and Lycia..." (p. 66);

to the east, Cyrus himself resisted barbarian horsemen;

Cilicia was annexed without resistance because the Persians ruled humanely and tolerantly;

Cyrus let his nobles rule the eastern marches while he consolidated his gains;

542 was a year of tranquility when a virgin could carry a sack of gold across Persia (Meander from Athens enters Pasargadae, is received by Croesus and inquires about a miracle-working mage who had arrived sixteen years previously);

in 539, Cyrus resumed war against Babylon and acquired Mesopotamia;

after another peaceful period, "...the wild men grew too strong beyond the Aral Sea and the King rode forth against them to his death..." (pp. 66-67) in about 530.

(In this summary, brackets enclose the activities of a Time Patrolman.)