Social and disciplinary approaches in the battle of Astyages and Cyrus

Abstract:One of the most important events in the history of the relations between the Medes and Persians is the battle of Cyrus with Astyages, the last ruler of Media. This historical event led to the end of the Median kingdom and the beginning of the Achaemenid dynasty and a new era in the history of Iran and the region of Southwest Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe and Africa. Herodotus attributes Cyrus' victory in this battle to the killing of Harpagus' son by Astyages and the collusion of Harpagus and Cyrus; but in the account of Ctesias, Astyages is a kind-hearted ruler who is oppressed by Cyrus and his accomplice Mehtar. In both accounts, the role of Cyrus' companions in inciting and guiding him is very important; but it seems that other reasons were effective in the beginning of this battle; because in the story that both narrators easily pass by, Cyrus is released from Astyages' court with difficulty. The importance of this issue can be understood from the severity of the punishment of the dreamers who played a role in Cyrus' liberation. The present study was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method and based on library studies, and its aim is to examine in more detail the causes of the disruption of social order and the outbreak of rebellion in Persia, which led to the battle between Astyages and Cyrus. The results of this study indicate that, contrary to the narratives of Herodotus and Ctesias, the cause of the battle between Astyages and Cyrus was Astyages' conspiracies against Cyrus and the people of Persia and the capture of Cyrus, the king of Persia, in the court of Media, which led to the disruption of social conditions, order, and security in Persia.Keywords: Persian Wars, Median Armies, Cyrus, Astyages, Policing.