The Death & Legacy of Cyrus
Much like his early life, Cyrus’ death is shrouded in mystery and legend. Herodotus wrote that the king was killed in the east as he went into battle against Iranian nomads. According to Xenophon, Cyrus died of natural causes; while another account claims he died in the Far East while on a campaign. He died in December 530 BC or January 529 BC, and Cyrus had already made his son, Cambyses, his successor. The founder of the Achaemenid Empire was buried in a small building near Pasargadae. Although it was desecrated during Alexander the Great’s invasion, the tomb of Cyrus survives today and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to Charles Freeman, a British historian, Cyrus’ legacy stands above that of even Alexander the Great. While Alexander ultimately destroyed the Achaemenid Empire, he failed to provide a stable alternative whereas the Empire founded by Cyrus lasted for 200 years. The Babylonians referred to him as the ‘liberator’ while the Iranians called him ‘the father.’
The political infrastructure created by Cyrus ensured that the Achaemenid Empire was strong, stable and ready to conquer even more territory by the time of his death. The rise of Persia ultimately had a huge impact on the history of the world as the philosophy, religion, and literature of Iran played a big role in global events for hundreds of years. Even though it was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate in the 7th century AD, Persia’s influence in the Middle East did not dwindle, and in fact, Persia was influential during the Islamic Golden Age.
Cyrus the Just
Cyrus the Great is legendary for the fair and moderate way in which he treated the people he conquered. The Cyrus Cylinder proclaimed the freedom of his subjects on various matters including culture and religion and is sometimes known as the ‘first charter of human rights.’ It is clear that unlike many rulers of the age, Cyrus saw himself as a ‘liberator’ rather than a conqueror.
He was known for treating his subjects equally regardless of their ethnic or religious background, and he allowed the territories he conquered to keep their religious and local customs. One of the most famous examples of his fairness involved releasing 40,000 Jews from captivity in Babylon and allowing them to return home to Jerusalem and he also ordered the temple at the city to be rebuilt. As a result of these actions, the Jews referred to Cyrus as ‘the anointed of the Lord.’
Cyrus the Great is one of the few rulers to deserve the epithet. Not only did he found a great empire, but he also possessed the great qualities one would expect in a ruler. He was tolerant, brave, daring, and magnanimous and gained the admiration of fellow great leaders such as Alexander the Great; Cyrus was also a personal hero of none other than Thomas Jefferson.