Astyages

Astyages (also spelled Astyages) was the last king of the Median Empire, traditionally dated to have reigned from about 585 to 550 BCE. He was the son of Cyaxares and the grandfather of Cyrus the Great, for his daughter Mandane gave birth to Cyrus, who would found the Achaemenid Empire. In Greek historiography, Astyages is the figure who marks the end of Median independence as a distinct political power.

The historical record of Astyages relies largely on Herodotus, with later classical writers expanding the narrative. According to Herodotus, a prophecy warned Astyages that his grandson would overthrow him. In response, he allegedly ordered Harpagus to kill the infant Cyrus, a plan that failed. In time Cyrus rose in rebellion, defeating the Median forces and capturing Astyages. The defeat effectively ended Median sovereignty, and Media was absorbed into Cyrus’s growing empire, which united the Persian and Median populations under the Achaemenid realm.

Historical assessment of Astyages is cautious. The details of the dream, the plotted child’s execution, and the precise circumstances of his capture are debated, and some scholars view the traditional account as a later Greek narrative shaping. Archaeological and textual evidence for a unified Median state and its exact timeline remains limited, leading to varying interpretations of the transition from Median to Achaemenid rule.

Legacy: In classical sources, Astyages is remembered as the last king of Media, a transitional figure whose downfall intersected with the rise of the Persian Empire. His dynastic connection to Cyrus the Great is often noted as a key link between Median and Achaemenid royal lineages.