Cyaxares
| Cyaxares | |
|---|---|
| King of Media | |
Possible relief of Cyaxares, Qyzqapan tomb, Sulaymaniyah. Iraqi Kurdistan. | |
| King of the Medes | |
| Reign | 625 – 585 BC |
| Coronation | 625 BC |
| Predecessor | Phraortes |
| Successor | Astyages |
| Born | 675 BC Ecbatana |
| Died | 585 BC |
| Burial | Syromedia (present-day Qyzqapan, Kurdistan Region) |
| Spouse | Daughter (or granddaughter) of Nabopolassar |
| Issue | Astyages Amytis |
| Median | ᴴuvaxšϑra |
| Dynasty | Median dynasty |
| Father | Phraortes |
| Religion | Ancient Iranian religion |
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Cyaxares was the third king of the Medes. He ascended to the throne in 625 BC, after his father Phraortes lost his life in a battle against the Assyrians, probably Ashurbanipal. Assyrian allies, the Scythians then ruled Media for 28 years before Cyaxeres overthrew Scythian domination and became king.
Cyaxares collaborated with the Babylonians to destroy the Assyrian Empire, and united most of the Iranian peoples of ancient Iran, thereby transforming Media into a major power.