Cyrus the Younger (Old Persian: π€π’π½π’π KΕ«ruΕ‘; Ancient Greek: ΞαΏ¦ΟΞΏΟ Kyros; died 401 BC), rarely called Cyrus III, was an Achaemenid prince and general. He ruled as satrap of Lydia and Ionia from 408 to 401 BC. Son of Darius II and Parysatis, he died in 401 BC in the Battle of Cunaxa during a failed attempt to oust his elder brother Artaxerxes II from the Persian throne.
The history of Cyrus and of the retreat of his Greek mercenaries is told by Xenophon in his Anabasis. Another account, probably from Sophaenetus of Stymphalus, was used by Ephorus. Further information is contained in the excerpts from Artaxerxes II's physician, Ctesias, by Photius; Plutarchβs Lives of Artaxerxes II and Lysander; and Thucydides's History of Peloponnesian War. These are the only early sources of information on Cyrus the Younger.
HistoryLayer draws the world as it was in any year from 123,000 BCE to
2026. Move the slider and the borders redraw for that year; the map
carries 23,890 events, 12,790 people, 837 wars and 13,183 cities, each
one readable in place. Signing in is optional and lets you keep what
you find.