Part 52

Explore the rise of the Persian Empire in Civilization V, from Cyrus II's rebellion against the Medes to Xerxes I's invasion of Greece. Learn about key rulers and battles.

This section details the historical expansion and key rulers of the Persian Empire, relevant to understanding its role and potential in Civilization V.

The Medes, initially ruling from holdings in the highlands east and north of Babylon, including Asia Minor, were led by King Cyaxares. His son, Astyages, was the last king of the Medes. Cyaxares reportedly gave Persia to his vassal Cambyses I, who passed the crown to his son, Cyrus II. Cyrus II solidified his position by marrying Astyages' daughter. In 550 BC, Cyrus II allied with Babylon and rebelled against the Medes, emerging victorious and ending the Median kingdom.

Cyrus II, the first Achaemenian king, expanded Persia into Asia Minor. He diplomatically isolated and conquered Lydia under King Croesus, then besieged and took Greek city-states on the west coast. Turning south, he conquered Babylon, which was internally divided and had few allies after Cyrus's conquest of Lydia. By 539 BC, Cyrus entered Babylon, ruling an empire stretching to Egypt's borders. Cyrus II died in battle in Central Asia in 529 BC.

Cyrus II was succeeded by his son, Cambyses II. After allegedly murdering his brother Bardiya, Cambyses II led a campaign against Egypt in 525 BC, conquering it after battles at Pelusium and Memphis. Attempts to expand west against Carthage, Nubia, and Amon were unsuccessful. In 522 BC, Cambyses II learned of a revolt in Iran led by an imposter claiming to be his brother, Bardiya. He died en route to quell the rebellion, possibly by suicide.

Upon Cambyses II's death, his general Darius, a distant Achaemenian relative, crushed the rebellion and declared himself heir. After a year of fighting, Darius I was in firm control of the Persian Empire by 521 BC. Darius I reorganized the empire, codified laws, expanded into northern India, and established a foothold in Europe across the Hellespont. He suppressed a Greek city-state revolt, earning goodwill by restoring democracy.

In 492 BC, Darius's forces retook Thrace and Macedonia, preparing for a Greek invasion. However, the allied Greeks decisively defeated Darius at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Darius began preparing a larger campaign but died in 486 BC.

Darius I was succeeded by his son, Xerxes I. Xerxes I quickly suppressed a revolt in Egypt in 484 BC, dealing harshly with the province. He also suppressed a Babylonian revolt in 482 BC. In 480 BC, Xerxes led a large army and navy into northern Greece. Despite the stand at Thermopylae, the Persians marched to Athens and sacked it. However, the Athenian navy remained potent. At the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), a smaller Greek fleet defeated the Persian navy, destroying many Persian galleys. This delayed the Persian offensive, allowing Greeks to strengthen defenses. Xerxes returned to Persia, leaving Mardonius in command. The Greeks won subsequent battles, and with Mardonius's death at Plataea, the campaign ended with a Persian withdrawal.

Xerxes never invaded Greece again and was assassinated in 465 BC. The subsequent kings—Artaxerxes I, Xerxes II, and Darius II (465-404 BC)—were weak. Persia regained some influence in the Aegean by playing Greek city-states against each other during the Peloponnesian War. Egypt revolted in 405 BC and remained under its control for over 50 years.

Darius II was succeeded by Artaxerxes II (404-359 BC), who warred against Sparta over Greek colonies in Asia Minor and allied with Athens.