Fall of Babylon: Cyrus's Conquest and the Achaemenid Transition (539–530 BCE)

1. Cyrus launches invasion of Babylonia

   Sep 1, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Babylonia

   • Britannica
   • Iranica
   • Oxford Cabinet

2. Persians defeat Babylonians at Opis

   Sep 1, 539 BCELabels: Battle of, Tigris

   • Iranica
   • Oxford Cabinet
   • Battle Opis

3. Sippar falls to Persian forces

   Oct 10, 539 BCELabels: Sippar, Persian army

   • Iranica
   • Oxford Cabinet

4. Cyrus’ army enters Babylon without battle

   Oct 12, 539 BCELabels: Babylon, Nabonidus

   • Iranica
   • Oxford Cabinet
   • Britannica

5. Cyrus enters Babylon and confirms order

   Oct 29, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Babylon

   • Iranica
   • Oxford Cabinet

6. Cyrus issues Babylon legitimation inscription

   Nov 1, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus II

   • Uni Mainz
   • Livius
   • Cylinder

7. Cyrus appoints governors over Babylonia

   Nov 1, 539 BCELabels: Achaemenid administration, Governors

   • Iranica
   • Oxford Cabinet

8. Statues restored and temples supported

   Dec 1, 539 BCELabels: Temples, Divine statues

   • Uni Mainz
   • Livius

9. Cyrus’ policy enables displaced groups’ returns

   Jan 1, 538 BCELabels: Exiled Judeans, Cyrus II

   • Britannica
   • Edict

10. Imperial mourning for the king’s wife

    Mar 21, 538 BCELabels: Cassandane, Babylonian chronicles

    • Iranica
    • Cassandane

11. Cambyses participates in Babylonian New Year rites

    Mar 27, 538 BCELabels: Cambyses II, Akitu festival

    • Iranica
    • Oxford Cabinet

12. Cambyses styled “king of Babylon” in documents

    Apr 1, 538 BCELabels: Cambyses II, Babylonian documents

    • WHE
    • Nabonidus

13. Cyrus dies; succession passes to Cambyses

    Jan 1, 530 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Cambyses II

    • Britannica
    • Cyrus