Cyrus II (580-529 BC), known as Cyrus the Great “was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia
by uniting the two original Iranian tribes: the Medes and the Persians. Although he was
known to be a great conqueror who at one point controlled one of the greatest
Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and
magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated.
“Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for
his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian
officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern
frontiers [,… extending to] the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with
the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic
tribes of Central Asia.
“The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded
the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so
to cheers from the Jewish community, who welcomed him as a liberator – he allowed
the Jews to return to the Promised Land. He showed great forbearance and
respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races.
These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom
he ruled.
“The victory over Babylonia expressed all the facets of the
policy of conciliation that Cyrus had followed until then. He presented himself
not as a conqueror, but a liberator and the legitimate successor to the crown.
He also declared the first Charter of Human Rights known to mankind. He took the title of ‘King of Babylon and King of the Land.’
Cyrus had no thought of forcing conquered people into a single mold, and had
the wisdom to leave unchanged the institution of each kingdom he attached to
the Persian Crown. In 539 BCE he allowed more than 40,000 Jews to leave Babylon
and return to Palestine. This step was in line with his policy to bring peace
to mankind. A new wind was blowing from the east, carrying away the cries and
humility of defeated and murdered victims, extinguishing the fires of sacked
cities, and liberating nations from slavery.
“Cyrus was upright, a great leader of men, generous and
benelovent. The Hellenes whom he conquered regarded him as ‘Lawgiver’ and the
Jews as ‘the Anointed of the Lord.’”
(Source of the above-quoted material: http://www.iranchamber.com/history/cyrus/cyrus.php)
Below you will find a map of Cyrus’ empire, and of Darius' empire after him:
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