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Croesus
King of Lydia
(-c. 546 BC)
Positions Held
Governor of Barene
Viceroy
Commander in chief
Satrap of Adramyttium, and the plain of Thebe, c. 574 BC/c. 572 BC
Biographical
Last king of Lydia, of the family of the Mermnadae. At the age of thirty-five,
he succeeded his father in the kingdom of Lydia (560 BC). Difficulties
have been raised about this date, and there are very strong reasons for
believing that Croesus was associated in the kingdom during his father's
life, and that the earlier events of his reign, as recorded by Herodotus,
belong to this period of joint government.
He waged war against the Ephesians, and then against the other Ionian
and Aeolian cities of Asia Minor, all of which he reduced to the payment
of tribute. He was meditating an attempt to subdue the insular Greeks
also, when either Bias or Pittacus turned him from his purpose by a clever
fable, and instead of attacking the islanders he made an alliance with
them. Croesus next turned his arms against the peoples of Asia Minor west
of the river Halys, all of whom he subdued except the Lycians and Cilicians.
His empire was now greatly expanded.
Herodotus recounts that the fame of his power and wealth drew to his court
at Sardis all the wise men of Greece, and among them Solon. To him the
king exhibited all his treasures, and then asked him who was the happiest
man he had ever seen. The reply of Solon, teaching that no man should
be deemed happy till he had finished his life in a happy way.
The growing power of Cyrus (II), who had recently subdued the Median kingdom,
excited the apprehension of Croesus, and he conceived the idea of putting
down the Persians before their empire became firm. Croesus marched across
the Halys and conquered the Cappadocians. He was met at the town of Pterii
by Cyrus, and they fought an indecisive battle, which was broken off by
night, 546 BC. The following day, as Cyrus did not offer battle, and as
his own army was much inferior to the Persian in numbers, Croesus marched
back to Sardis with the intention of summoning his allies and recruiting
his own forces, and then renewing the war on the return of spring. Cyrus,
however, pursued him with a rapidity which he had not expected, and appeared
before Sardis before his approach could be announced. Croesus led out
his Lydian cavalry to battle, and was totally defeated. Sardis was taken
after Croesus had reigned 14 years and had been besieged 14 days, near
the end of 546 BC.
Croesus was to be executed, but was spared. He was allowed to live and
govern in Barene by Cyrus. During Cambyses' rule, he fled after
admonishing the king over the Prexaspes affair, but he was not punished.
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