Everyone knows the strength of the Persian Empire, but few people know that in that era of iron-blooded warfare, there was an emperor who was known for his benevolence. This emperor was the founder of the Persian Empire, Cyrus the Great. In that era of the law of the jungle, the defeated countries were often treated cruelly, and the captives were worse than death. However, Cyrus the Great broke with this convention, and his treatment of his captives not only shocked the people of his time, but also amazed even modern people.
In 539 BCE, the Persian army captured the city of Babylon. At the time, it was assumed that a bloody massacre and plunder would follow. However, Cyrus the Great's next move surprised everyone. Instead of killing the captives, he treated them with unprecedented kindness. What did this emperor do to make the world so praised? Why is his act hailed as the earliest declaration of human rights in human history? Why is this way of treating captives so much that even modern people sigh at it?
In the vast lands of the Persian Plateau, an emperor destined to change the course of history is rising. This was Cyrus II, who later became known as "Cyrus the Great". His rise was not without its challenges, but it was full of legends and dramatic turns.
Around 600 BC, there were two main political entities on the Persian plateau: the Median Kingdom and the Persian Kingdom. The Medes were the overlords of the time, while the Persian kingdom was its vassal. Cyrus' father, Cambyses I, was king of the Persian kingdom, while his mother, Mandana, was the daughter of Astyagos, king of the Median kingdom.
However, Cyrus' birth was not welcomed by his grandfather. According to the Greece historian Herodotus, Astyages had a dream in which his grandson would take his throne. To prevent this prophecy from coming true, Astyages ordered his vizier Halpagos to kill the newborn Cyrus.
However, fate seems to have arranged a different path for Cyrus. Harpagous could not bear to kill the baby with his own hands, so he gave the task to a shepherd. The shepherd and his wife happened to have just lost their own child, so they decided to adopt Cyrus and replace him with a dead child of their own.
Ten years later, the truth is finally revealed. When Astyages found out that Cyrus was still alive, he was furious but had no choice but to let Cyrus return to Persia. This experience laid the foundation for Cyrus's later growth, as he understood both the power structure of the Medes kingdom and a deep understanding of Persian traditions.
In 559 BC, Cyrus succeeded his father to the throne and became king of Persia. But he was not content with merely ruling a vassal state. He began a secret plot to overthrow the rule of the Median kingdom.
The opportunity was not long in coming. In 550 BCE, Cyrus united some nobles dissatisfied with the Median rule and launched a large-scale rebellion. The rebellion received unexpected support - the leaders of the Median army defected and defected to Cyrus.
After a series of fierce battles, Cyrus finally captured the Medesan capital, Ecbatana. He captured his maternal grandfather, Astyages, but instead of killing him, he gave him preferential treatment. This move demonstrated Cyrus' political wisdom and laid the foundation for his later reign.
After uniting Persia and the Medes, Cyrus did not stop. He began to expand westward, conquering the kingdoms of Lydia and then Neo-Babylon. In just ten years, Cyrus built a vast empire spanning Central, Western, and Asia Minor.
Cyrus's success lay not only in his military prowess, but also in his political wisdom. He respected the culture and traditions of the conquered countries and allowed them to preserve their religious beliefs and way of life. This policy of tolerance allowed the Persian Empire to rule such a vast territory in a stable manner.
In building his empire, Cyrus demonstrated extraordinary leadership and vision. He was not only an excellent military commander, but also a wise statesman. His rise marked the beginning of a new era, one in which Persians dominated the history of the Middle East.
After unifying Persia and the Medes, Cyrus the Great did not stop expanding. His gaze turned to Babylon, one of the most powerful and wealthy centers of civilization at the time. Babylon is not only a bustling metropolis, but also an imperial center with a long history and a splendid culture. The capture of Babylon was not only a military victory for Cyrus, but also a great political and cultural achievement.
In 539 BCE, Cyrus led a large Persian army on Babylon. Babylon at that time was ruled by King Nabonids, but in reality, Nabonids was absent from the capital for a long time, but handed over the rule to his son Belshazzar. This division of rule gave the Persian army an opportunity to take advantage of.
Cyrus employs a series of ingenious strategies. First, he sent emissaries to make secret contacts with the various city-states and nobles in Babylon, promising them more autonomy and benefits after the conquest of Babylon. This strategy of division and disintegration was so effective that many of the Babylonian vassal city-states defected and secretly supported the Persian army.
Second, Cyrus took advantage of the contradictions within Babylon. At that time, there was a serious religious conflict in Babylonian society, and King Nabonid revered the moon god Sin, while the main god traditionally worshipped by the Babylonians was Marduk. Cyrus skillfully exploited this by declaring himself to have come to liberate the people of Babylon and to restore the status of the god Marduk. This propaganda greatly disintegrated the will of the Babylonian people to resist.
In military operations, Cyrus also showed extraordinary talent. Rather than directly storming the city of Babylon, he adopted a surprising strategy. The city of Babylon had strong walls and ample food reserves to sustain a long siege. But the Euphrates, the city's lifeline, became its Achilles' heel.
Cyrus ordered the construction of an aqueduct upstream of the city of Babylon to divert the waters of the Euphrates. As the water level gradually dropped, the Persian army was able to sneak into the city along the dry riverbed. It is said that at that time, a great religious festival was being held in the city of Babylon, and the people were immersed in revelry, not realizing the danger coming.
Thus, on the night of October 12, 539 BC, the Persian army captured the city of Babylon with almost no resistance. The battle was later called the "bloodless conquest" because there were almost no large-scale bloodshed along the way.
What really surprisingly is, however, what happened to Cyrus after the capture of Babylon. Unlike other conquerors of the time, Cyrus did not carry out massacres and plunder. Instead, he entered the city as a liberator and protector.
Cyrus declared respect for the traditions and culture of Babylon and allowed people to continue to worship their gods. He even personally attended the Babylonian New Year celebrations, holding the hand of the god Marduk in accordance with the tradition to signify himself as a god-sanctioned ruler. This move greatly calmed the emotions of the Babylonians and made the transfer of power smooth and peaceful.
Even more surprising was the fact that Cyrus freed captives of various ethnic groups who had been captive by the Babylonians, including a large number of Jews. Not only did he allow them to return to their homeland, but he also financed the rebuilding of the temple that had been destroyed in the previous war. This decision is recorded in the famous Cyrus Column and is considered one of the earliest declarations of human rights in human history.
The conquest of Babylon was an important turning point in Cyrus's reign. With this conquest, he not only expanded the empire, but also demonstrated a completely new idea of rule. His policy of tolerance laid the foundation for the long-term stability of the Persian Empire and set an example for future rulers.
The peaceful occupation of Babylon marked the true emergence of the Persian Empire as a superpower across Europe and Asia. From then on, Cyrus was not only king of the Persians, but also the "King of the Four Directions", ruling over a vast area from the Eastern Mediterranean to the India River valley. This conquest not only changed the political landscape of the Middle East, but also opened a new path for the development of human civilization.
In ancient wars, the fate of defeated countries was often tragic. Captives were often subjected to cruel treatment, killed, enslaved, or forced into hard labor. However, Cyrus the Great broke with this cruel tradition, and his treatment of his captives was not only shocking at the time, but also extremely humane today.
First, Cyrus the Great ordered the release of captives of various tribes who had been captive by the Babylonians. The most famous of these are the Jews. In 586 B.C.E., King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon captured Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and exiled large numbers of Jews to Babylon. Known as the "Babylonian Prisoner," this period was one of the darkest periods in Jewish history.
When Cyrus conquered Babylon, he made an unexpected decision: to allow the imprisoned Jews to return to their homeland. Not only that, but he ordered the return of the plundered holy artifacts and financed the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This decision is recorded in the famous Cyrus Column and is considered one of the earliest declarations of human rights in human history.
This move by Cyrus was not limited to the Jews. He also freed other peoples who had been imprisoned by the Babylonians, such as the Phoenicians, Egypt, etc. The released captives were allowed to return to their homes and rebuild their lives and faith.
What is even more surprising is that Cyrus did not force these released captives to change their beliefs or cultures. Instead, he allowed them to maintain their religion and traditions. Such a policy of religious tolerance was extremely rare in the world at that time.
In addition to freeing his captives, Cyrus took a series of measures to improve the lives of the conquered peoples. For example, he ordered the repair of irrigation systems damaged by the war and the reconstruction of destroyed cities and holy places. In Babylon, he revived the traditional worship of the god Marduk and participated in the Babylonian New Year celebrations as a sign of respect for the local culture.
Cyrus's mercy was not limited to the treatment of his captives. Within the Persian Empire under his rule, he practiced a style of administration known as the "satrapy". Under this system, the conquered regions retained considerable autonomy. The local aristocracy and elite were absorbed into the ruling system of the empire, rather than being excluded or eliminated. This practice greatly reduced the contradictions and conflicts within the empire.
Cyrus's policy towards captives and conquered peoples was revolutionary in the world at that time. It embodies a new idea of governance: to gain the hearts and minds of the people through tolerance and respect, rather than to maintain it through terror and oppression.
The effect of such a policy has been significant. Many of the conquered peoples showed a high degree of loyalty to the Persian Empire. For example, in the later Greco-Persian Wars, many soldiers who had originally belonged to the Babylonian Empire fought for the Persian Empire. The Jews also regarded Cyrus as their savior, and in the Old Testament he was called "the anointed one of the Lord."
Cyrus's act of kindness not only influenced his contemporaries, but also had a profound impact on later generations. When Alexander the Great conquered Persia, he learned from Cyrus and respected the local culture and traditions. The Roman Empire, in its later expansion, adopted a similar policy to some extent.
However, Cyrus's policy was not without controversy. Some argue that such a policy of tolerance could weaken the cohesion of the empire. In fact, among the Persian rulers after Cyrus, there were also attempts to change this policy. But in general, the basic policy laid down by Cyrus was continued for most of the Persian Empire.
Cyrus's mercy towards his captives is not only a reflection of his personal wisdom and open-mindedness, but also a reflection of certain qualities of Persian culture. This tolerance and respect for multiculturalism became an important foundation for the long-term stability of the Persian Empire and made important contributions to the development of human civilization.
Cyrus the Great did not stop there after conquering Babylon, freeing his captives, and implementing a policy of tolerance. His ambitions drove him to continue his expansion to the east, setting his sights on the vast region of Central Asia. Not only was this region rich in resources, but it was also an important hub connecting East and West, and was crucial to building an empire that spanned Europe and Asia.
Around 540 BC, Cyrus began his crusade. The first to face was the Kingdom of Bactria. This country, located in present-day northern Afghanistan, was known for its rich land and powerful cavalry. Cyrus employed a series of ingenious tactics to conquer this formidable enemy.
He first sent emissaries to secretly liaise with some of Bactria's nobles, promising them more power and benefits under the new rule. This strategy of fragmentation and disintegration paid off with remarkable results, and divisions soon began within Bactria.
At the same time, Cyrus did not neglect military preparations. He assembled an elite cavalry unit that could not only maneuver quickly, but also fight in the highland area. This is an innovation made by Cyrus based on the topographical characteristics of Central Asia.
After the start of the military campaign, Cyrus resorted to the tactics of blitzkrieg. His army crossed the desert and mountains at breakneck speed, reaching the hinterland of the Bactrians before they were fully prepared. This sudden attack, combined with internal divisions, caused Bactria to quickly submit to Persian rule.
After the conquest of Bactria, Cyrus did not stop. He continued eastward to Sogdiana (present-day southern Uzbekistan). It was an important node on the Silk Road and controlled the lifeblood of trade between East and West.
Sogdiana's conquest was more difficult than Bactria's. Its inhabitants are known for their bravery and warlikeness, and they put up a stubborn resistance in the mountain fortresses. Cyrus had to resort to siege tactics while also taking advantage of the local water system. He ordered the water to be cut off to some of the fortresses, forcing the defenders to surrender.
In the process, Cyrus showed extraordinary diplomatic skills. He forged alliances with some of the local tribes, using their familiarity with the terrain to guide his army. At the same time, he also pledged to protect local commercial interests, which led some of the merchant class to favor Persia.
After the conquest of Sogdiana, Cyrus' empire extended into the heart of Central Asia. But his ambitions have not yet been satisfied. He continued eastward to the present-day regions of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is a nomadic settlement, mainly Cypriots.
Faced with these nomads, Cyrus adopted a different strategy. Instead of trying to conquer them directly, he gradually expanded his influence by establishing military strongholds and trading posts. This gentle approach to expansion avoided large-scale conflict with these warlike nomads, while also opening the door for the Persian Empire to the farther east.
In the course of his conquest, Cyrus also took care to protect and develop the local economy. He built a series of roads that connected the various parts of the empire. These roads not only facilitated military movements, but also facilitated the development of trade. In some important cities, such as Samarkand, he ordered the construction of new markets and warehouses to facilitate merchants.
Cyrus' crusade not only expanded the territory of the Persian Empire, but also brought great wealth to the empire. The rich mineral resources of Central Asia, especially gold, greatly enriched the treasury of the empire. At the same time, it controlled important nodes of the Silk Road, making Persia a bridge between East and West, playing a key role in economic and cultural exchanges.
However, the crusade also laid potential problems for the Persian Empire. The empire's territory became so large that it was difficult to manage effectively. Despite the establishment of a satrapy by Cyrus, the centrifugal tendencies of local forces were always a problem. In addition, the eastern borders of the empire were bordered by nomads, whose threat of invasion appeared several times in later Persian history.
Cyrus's crusade marked the true emergence of the Persian Empire as a trans-Eurasian superpower. From the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia, from the Caucasus to the Persian Gulf, this vast empire encompassed some of the most advanced centers of civilization in the world at the time. Not only did this change the geopolitical landscape of the time, but it also provided a model for later empires to govern multicultural empires.
After the expansion of the Persian Empire into Central Asia, Cyrus the Great's ambitions did not stop. His gaze turned farther north, where the Massaguts, a formidable nomadic people, lived. This decision eventually led to the fall of the great conqueror and brought his illustrious life to a tragic end.
The Massaguts lived in the vast steppes east of the Caspian Sea, and were known for their bravery in battle, as well as their skill in horsemanship and archery. This nomadic people has long been a threat to the northern borders of the Persian Empire. Cyrus decided to completely eliminate this potential enemy in order to ensure the security of the empire.
In 530 BC, Cyrus led a large army north. His army consisted of elite Persians and vassal troops from all over the empire, with a total estimated population of more than 200,000. This huge army moved along the north of present-day Amu Dara and gradually penetrated into the territory of the Masagats.
The Massaguts were ruled by Queen Tomyris. She was a wise and courageous leader, and upon hearing of the Persian invasion, she immediately summoned the tribal leaders to discuss what to do. Aware of the risks of a head-on confrontation with the Persian Empire, Tomyris resorted to guerrilla tactics, constantly harassing the Persian army and cutting off its supply lines.
Faced with this situation, Cyrus resorted to a ruse. He ordered the army to leave plenty of good wine and food in the camp and then pretend to retreat. The Masagates fell for the trick, and they stormed the camp of the Persians, drank good wine, and soon fell drunk. Cyrus then led his army back, defeated the Masagets, and captured Tomilys' son.
This victory gave Cyrus a boost of confidence, and he decided that the Masagot had nothing to fear. However, Tomiris was not crushed by this defeat. Instead, she was more vigilant and devised an ingenious plan to fight back.
Tomyris sent messengers to Cyrus to negotiate peace, demanding the release of her son. Cyrus refused this request. Tomyris' son commits suicide in despair. This tragic event infuriated the Massaguts, who united and prepared to fight the Persians to the death.
Tomyris took advantage of the terrain and led the Persian army into a narrow valley. There, the cavalry of the Masagates could give full play to their superiority in mobility. When the Persian army penetrated deep into the valley, Tomyris ordered a general attack.
The battle was extremely fierce. The cavalry of the Masagates stormed the Persian line. The Persian army, though outnumbered, struggled to spread out in the narrow terrain and soon fell into disarray. Cyrus personally took command and tried to stabilize the morale of the army, but the situation was irreparable.
During the scuffle, Cyrus was hit by a stray arrow and fell from his horse. His guards desperately defended him, but were ultimately outnumbered. According to the Greece historian Herodotus, Tomiris ordered Cyrus' head to be cut off and thrown into a skin filled with human blood in retaliation for her son's death.
The fall of Cyrus shocked the entire Persian Empire. The great monarch who had built a vast empire had finally fallen in the far northern steppes. His body was brought back to Persia by loyal soldiers and buried in the royal tomb of Pasargard.
The Battle of Massagut not only ended Cyrus' life, but also sounded the alarm for the Persian Empire. The campaign exposed the Empire's weaknesses in dealing with the nomads and also showed the dangers of overreach. However, the vast empire left behind by Cyrus did not collapse with his death. His son Cambyses succeeded to the throne and continued his father's policies.
The fall of Cyrus also became the source of many legends in later generations. In Persian folklore, Cyrus is portrayed as a tragic hero, and his death is seen as a warning against excessive ambition. The Greece saw the story as a classic example of the impermanence of fate, emphasizing that even the greatest monarch could not escape the arrangement of fate.
Although Cyrus was defeated and killed at the Battle of Masaget, his exploits and influence did not diminish as a result. The Persian Empire he founded lasted for more than two centuries and became one of the most powerful empires in the ancient world. His philosophy of rule, especially his tolerant attitude towards multiculturalism, had a profound impact on later generations. Cyrus's life, from rise to fall, is both a microcosm of his personal legend and a portrayal of the rise and fall of empires.