Astyages

Astyages (so-called by Herodotos; called Astyigas by Ctesias, and Aspadas by Diodorus; Akkadian: Ishtumegu) (reigned 585 BCE-550 BCE) was the son of King Cyaxares, and the last king of the Median Empire. In 585 BCE, the last year of his father's reign, he was married to Aryenis, a sister of King Croesus of Lydia to cement a peace treaty between the Medes and Lydians and end a five-year war.

Related Topics:
Herodotos - Ctesias - Diodorus - Akkadian - 585 BCE - 550 BCE - Cyaxares - Median Empire - Aryenis - Croesus of Lydia - Medes - Lydians

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In 553 BCE, King Cyrus the Great made war on Astyages. After three years of fighting, the Median troops mutinied, and Astyages was handed over to the enemy. Cyrus then went on to pillage Astyage's capital of Ecbatana. Herodotus relates that the mutiny was instigated by one of Astyages' courtiers (and general), named Harpagus, as revenge for the king forcing him to eat his own son. Whether or not this is true, Harpagus and his family were granted high positions in the Persian empire after the war.

Related Topics:
553 BCE - Cyrus the Great - Median - Ecbatana - Harpagus

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Ancient sources agree that Astyages was treated with clemency after his capture, but differ in details. Herodotus says that he was imprisoned for the rest of his life, while according to Ctesias, he was made a governor of a region of Parthia and was later murdered by a political opponent, Oebaras.

Related Topics:
Astyages - Herodotus - Ctesias - Parthia - Oebaras

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As part of the story of Harpagus, Herotodus records that Cyrus the Great was actually Astyages' grandson (from his daughter Mandane), but this claim had not been verified by modern historians.

Related Topics:
Harpagus - Cyrus the Great - Astyages - Mandane

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