Persian Revolt

Quick Facts: Who was Persian Revolt?

Subject:

Persian Revolt

Known for:

The military conflict between the Median kingdom and Persis, leading to Achaemenid dominance.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Medo-Persian conflict was a campaign led by the Median king Astyages against Persis in the mid 6th-century BCE. Classical sources claim that Persis had been a vassal of the Median kingdom that revolted against Median rule, but this is not confirmed by contemporary evidence. After some battles the Persians led by Cyrus the Great emerged victorious, subsequently conquering Median territories and establishing the Achaemenid Empire. The main sources on the conflict are the Histories of the Greek historian Herodotus and two cuneiform inscriptions of the Babylonian king Nabonidus. The Babylonian texts suggest that the decisive battle and the capture of Ecbatana, the capital of Media, were only the climax of the Medo-Persian hostilities that lasted for at least three years (553-550 BCE).

Career & Major Achievements

The date of this conflict is somewhat problematic. As seen in the Cylinder of Sippar, the conflict began in the third year of Nabonidus' reign, which is in 553 BCE, and the Nabonidus Chronicle seems to date the defeat of Media in the sixth year of Nabonidus (i.e., 550 BCE). However, some modern scholars consider this unreliable. According to these scholars, there is no reason to assume that Nabonidus's chronicle dated the defeat of Media in the sixth year of Nabonidus' reign. The earlier part of the text in the chronicle is broken, and therefore, the year of the occurrence is unknown.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It is true that immediately after mentioning the defeat of the Medes, the text continues with an account of events in the seventh year of Nabonidus, but not every year is covered in the chronicle. Robert Drews suggested that, by relying solely on Nabonidus's chronicle, the defeat of the Medes could only be dated to a period between the first and sixth years of Nabonidus' reign, that is, between 554 and 550 BCE because the numbers indicating the first six years of Nabonidus' reign were interrupted in the chronicle. Furthermore, based on the Cylinder of Sippar, Drews was inclined to date the Persian victory in the revolt to the years 554-553 BCE. According to this specific source, the Median army was indeed defeated by the Persians in 553 BCE. However, it is likely that this defeat was just one in a long series of hostilities and not the most decisive one.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Persian Revolt

True or False: “Did Persia maintain complete political independence from Media throughout the entire period described by classical sources?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Classical sources suggest that while Persian records imply independence, some accounts consider Persia to have been a vassal state subject to Median rule.

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