Cyrus II (the Great)
Cyrus II (the Great) (died 530 BC )King of Persia ( 539 – 530 BC ), who founded the Achaemenid Persian empire when he overthrew Astyages, King of Media, and took possession of his capital Ecbatana in c. 500 . In 546 he defeated Croesus to take control of Asia Minor and Nabonidus (the last of the Chaldean kings) to add Babylonia, Assyria, Syria, and Palestine to his domains. His policies towards his subjects were tolerant: the Medians had access to important administrative posts and the Jews were freed from their Babylonian Exile and allowed to start rebuilding the Temple (their main religious centre) at Jerusalem. He was probably killed in battle and was buried at...
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