The king of Lydia Croesus was the last of the Mermnad dynasty and ruled in the VI century BC. He is credited with the leadership in minting coins with an established standard for the content of gold and silver in them in the amount of 98%.
This gave rise in the ancient world to say that Croesus had plenty of these metals. According to many, this testified to his fabulous we alth. Also, Croesus was the first to issue the royal seal - with the head of a lion and a bull on the front side. About his we alth and about what king defeated Croesus, the ruler of Lydia, we will tell today.
Innumerable riches
After the death of Croesus' father, Alyattes II, he reigned on the throne, defeating his half-brother in a short struggle.
During the years of his reign, the territory of the Lydian kingdom expanded greatly. Croesus subjugated the Asia Minor cities of Greece, among which were Miletus.and Ephesus. And he also captured almost the entire vast territory located in Asia Minor, up to the river Halys. This contributed to a significant increase in the taxes he collected.
Besides the fact that the king of Lydia Croesus was a successful warrior and politician, he was an educated person. Being a connoisseur of Hellenic culture, he wanted to introduce his fellow tribesmen to it. Croesus generously endowed Greek sanctuaries, among which are such as the temples at Ephesus and Delphi. So, the second of them was presented with a statue of a lion, consisting of pure gold. This was also the reason why Croesus, the king of Lydia, was considered the richest ruler in the ancient world.
Checking predictors
Croesus waged war with the king of Persia, who founded the Achaemenid Empire, Cyrus II. Having conquered Media, Cyrus also targeted the countries lying to the west of it.
Before starting hostilities, Croesus, seeing the rapid rise of Persia and the danger associated with it, thought that he should weaken the powerful new neighbor. As a prudent ruler, King Croesus of Lydia first decided to ask the oracles whether he should attack Cyrus.
He gave them a test of insight first. He sent messengers to the seven most famous oracles of Greece and Egypt, so that on the hundredth day after they left Lydia, they asked the soothsayers what their king was doing at that moment. Having done this, the ambassadors recorded the answers and hurried back to the capital, the city of Sardis.
There were only two correct answers, they came from Amphiaraus and Delphi. These oracles "saw" that Croesus cut a lamb and a tortoise into pieces and boiled them in a covered copper cauldron.
Oracle advice
After the check, Croesus sent ambassadors to Amphiarai and Delphi, having previously "appeased" the god Apollo, sending rich gifts to Delphi. King Croesus of Lydia asked if there was any point in attacking the Persians. The answer of both oracles was positive: "The campaign will be victorious, Croesus will crush the great empire."
And also the oracles advised to enter into an alliance with the most powerful of the Greek policies, without saying which one. On reflection, of the two most powerful Greek city-states, Croesus chose Sparta and made an alliance with her. And he also agreed on support in the fight against Cyrus II with Babylon and Egypt.
After the events described, Croesus attacked Cappadocia, formerly part of Media, and at that time - Persia. Having crossed the river Galis, which was the border, he broke into the city of Pteria and captured it. Here he set up camp, organizing a base with the aim of attacking the cities and villages of Cappadocia. At this time, Cyrus gathered an army and headed for Pteria.
Conquest of the Kingdom of Lydia
The first battle between the Lydians and the Persians took place at the walls of Pteria. It lasted all day, but ended in nothing. The Lydian army was inferior in number to the Persian, so Croesus decided to retreat to Sardis in preparation for a new breakthrough.
At the same time, to their allies - Sparta, Babylon andEgypt - he sent messengers asking for help. But he suggested that they approach Sardis not in the near future, but only after five months.
This was due to the fact that, according to Croesus, Cyrus would not dare to go on the offensive immediately after the recent, such a timid and inconclusive battle. He even disbanded the mercenary army. But Cyrus unexpectedly began to pursue the enemy, appearing with his soldiers right under the walls of the capital of Lydia.
The second, decisive battle between the troops of Croesus and Cyrus took place in the vicinity of Sardis, on the wide Timbra plain. It was a major battle, as a result of which the Lydians and the allies in the face of the Egyptians, who came to their aid, suffered a crushing defeat. The remnants of the united army took refuge behind the walls of Sardis. Although the city was well fortified, the Persians were able to find a secret path leading to the city's acropolis. With a surprise attack, they captured the fortress just two weeks after the siege began.
About the fate of King Croesus
After the fall of the Lydian capital, Croesus was taken prisoner by Cyrus. There are two versions of the fate of the recently powerful and very we althy king Lydia Croesus.
According to one of them, Cyrus II first sentenced Croesus to be burned at the stake, and then pardoned him. According to another, Croesus was executed.
Supporting the first version, Greek sources report that the former king of Lydia Croesus was not only pardoned by Cyrus, but also became his adviser.
