Cyaxares

Cyaxares was a king of the Medes who reigned from approximately 625 to 585 BCE. He is most famously known for his military campaigns and his role in the downfall of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

Under Cyaxares's rule, the Median Empire reached its zenith. He is credited with reorganizing the Median army into a more disciplined and effective fighting force, dividing it into spearmen, archers, and cavalry units. This military reform proved crucial in his subsequent successes.

Cyaxares formed an alliance with Nabopolassar, the king of Babylon, to wage war against the Assyrians. This alliance proved highly successful. Together, the Medes and Babylonians besieged and captured the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 612 BCE, effectively ending the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Following this victory, Cyaxares expanded Median influence further into Anatolia, clashing with the Lydian kingdom. These conflicts were eventually resolved through diplomacy, possibly facilitated by the introduction of a solar eclipse, leading to a treaty and a marriage alliance between their royal families. Cyaxares is also said to have established the first true judicial system and standardized weights and measures in the Median Empire. His reign laid the foundation for the subsequent Achaemenid Persian Empire, as his grandson Cyrus the Great would eventually conquer Media.