Cyrus (Kuruš) the Younger, son of Darius II of Persia (Dārayavahuš) and Parysatis, was a Persian prince and general. The time of his birth is unknown, but he died in 401 BC. The history of Cyrus and of the retreat of the Greeks is told by Xenophon in his Anabasis. Another account, probably from Sophaenetus of Stymphalus, was used by Ephorus. Further information is contained in the excerpts from Ctesias by Photius; also Plutarch’s lives of Artaxerxes II and Lysander. These are the only sources of information for Cyrus the Younger.
According to Xenophon, Cyrus the Younger was born after the accession of his father in 424 BC. In 408 BC, after the victories of Alcibiades, Darius II decided to continue the war against Athens and give strong support to the Spartans. He sent Cyrus the Younger into Asia Minor, as satrap of Lydia and Phrygia Major with Cappadocia, and commander of the Persian troops, "which gather into the field of Castolos", i.e. of the army of the district of Asia Minor.
In the Spartan general Lysander, Cyrus found a man who was willing to help him; as Lysander himself hoped to become absolute ruler of Greece, by the aid of the Persian prince. So Cyrus put all his means at the disposal of Lysander in the Peloponnesian War, but denied them to his successor Callicratidas.
At the same time Darius fell ill and called his son to his deathbed; Cyrus handed over all his treasures to Lysander and went to Susa. After the accession of Artaxerxes II in 404 BC, Tissaphernes (Ciθrafarna) denounced the plans of Cyrus against his brother but, by the intercession of Parysatis, was pardoned and sent back to his satrapy.
Lysander won the battle of Aegospotami and Sparta became more influential in the Greek world. Cyrus managed to gather a large army by beginning a quarrel with Tissaphernes, satrap of Caria, about the Ionian towns; he also pretended to prepare an expedition against the Pisidians, a mountainous tribe in the Taurus, which was never obedient to the Empire.
In the spring of 401 BC, Cyrus united all his forces into the group now called the "Ten Thousand" and advanced from Sardis, without announcing the object of his expedition. By dexterous management and large promises he overcame the scruples of the Greek troops against the length and danger of the war; a Spartan fleet of thirty-five triremes sent to Cilicia opened the passes of the Amanus into Syria and conveyed to him a Spartan detachment of 700 men under Cheirisophus. The king had only been warned at the last moment by Tissaphernes and gathered an army in haste; Cyrus advanced into Babylonia, before he met with an enemy. In October 401 BC, the battle of Cunaxa ensued. Cyrus had 10,400 Greek hoplites and 2,500 peltasts, and an Asiatic army of approximately 10,000 under the command of Ariaeus.
Cyrus saw that the outcome depended on the fate of the king; he therefore wanted Clearchus, the commander of the Greeks, to take the centre against Artaxerxes. Clearchus, out of arrogance, disobeyed. As a result the left wing of the Persians under Tissaphernes was free to engage the rest of Cyrus' forces; Cyrus in the centre threw himself upon Artaxerxes, but was slain in a desperate struggle. Tissaphernes pretended to have killed the rebel himself, with the result that Parysatis took cruel vengeance upon the slayer of her favorite son. The Persian troops, instead of attacking the Greeks via a direct assault, decoyed them into the interior, beyond the Tigris, and then attack through trickery. It was a solid and clever plan but, after their commanders had been taken prisoners, the Greeks managed to force their way to the Black Sea. This achievement demonstrated the potential superiority of Greek soldiers against their Persian adversaries. It is thought that this was the reason why Philip II of Macedon formulated his strategy of defeating the Persian Empire by means of a compact and well-trained army: a feat accomplished by his son, Alexander the Great.
Xenophon's Account of Cyrus' Life
Xenophon says that all who knew Cyrus well say that he was the most worthy of being king of all those born since Cyrus the Great. When he was a child, he was taught with his brother and the other children, and he was considered the best of everyone in all things. And he learned how to rule and how to be ruled. And Cyrus was the most respectful to his elders. And he loved horses and he was the best in using his horses. He was the most eager and diligent to learn the things of war, both archery and javelin-throwing. When he was old enough, he was fond of hunting and was not afraid of dangerous animals. And once he did not flee a bear attacking him, but having grappled with it he was dragged down from his horse, and he had the scars visible for the rest of his life. And in the end he killed the bear. Cyrus made the first person who came to help him enviable to many people.
When Cyrus was sent by his father to be Satrap it was very important to him that if he should promise anything to anybody, it would not be a lie. And Cyrus made sure that anyone who had formerly been his enemy but had made a peace treaty would not suffer anything in violation of the treaty. Therefore all the cities liked him, and when fought against Tissaphernes, all the cities chose to support Cyrus except Miletus. And whenever anyone did Cyrus good or bad, Cyrus took care to pay him back double. Most of all, Cyrus honored those men brave in war. He appointed those who chose danger in battle archons of the land which he subdued, and he honored them with other gifts. For that reason, there was an abundance of men willing to face danger whenever they thought Cyrus might see them. And if he saw anyone managing his region well and making money, Cyrus did not envy him and did not try to take his money, but instead gave him more money. But Cyrus did try to take the money of men who hid it.
Cyrus made friends so that he would have enough helpers for whatever he wanted to accomplish. And he gave gifts to his friends paying attention to what each one desired and needed. Cyrus himself received so many clothes, both for war and for decoration, as gifts that he said he would not be able to wear them all and instead gave them out. For he thought that well-decorated friends was the best decoration a man could have. And while it is not surprising that he outdid his friends in giving gifts, because he was more able, he is praiseworthy because he outdid his friends in thoughtfulness and desire to do favors. For Cyrus often sent half-empty jars of wine whenever he received a very sweet wine, saying that he had not for a long time happened upon a sweeter wine. Sending wine, Cyrus said "I send this to you and order you to drink it up on this day with the people you love best." And often Cyrus sent half-eaten gooses or loaves of bread and ordered the bearer to say this message: "Cyrus was pleased by these things. Therefore, he wants you to taste them too." Whenever there was a shortage of fodder, Cyrus could get some on account of his having a lot helpers and his forethought. And he sent it to his friends and ordered them to feed the horses carrying them, lest they hunger while carrying his friends. And whenever he was marching a bunch of people came to see him, he summoned his friends together and talked with them, that he might show whom he honored. For all these reasons, no one either Greek or barbarian was ever loved by more people. And therefore, all his friends did not abandon him, but fought together with him until the end of his life, because Cyrus knew how to pick friends who were friendly and trustworthy and reliable.[1]
Modern Appearances
Cyrus is a principal character in The Warriors (novel), The Warriors (film), and The Warriors (video game), all of which are based on Anabasis.
References
- ^ Xenophon, Anabasis I.9
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