... to form a warlike kingdom. One such tribe was the Persians who inhabited the district of Anshan. It was not until 559, when Cyrus came to the Persian throne, that the Persians began their advance to imperial rule. Herodotus records that Cyrus' first important victory was over the Medes. The Median king Astyges, as the Babylonian chronicle reports; '"called up his troops and marched against Cyrus"" (Murray, 1943. p251). Astyges sent out this army under the general Harpagus. However, Harpagus deserted to Cyrus' side probably because of the cruel execution Astyges had inflicted on his son (Olmstead, 1948. p37). Astyges, therefore, deployed a second army that he commanded in person. However, when this army reached the capital it too mutinied and the army seized its king and handed him over to Cyrus. Subsequently Media ceased being an independent nation and became the first satrapy which was called Mada. Cyrus' conquering ...

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