Reign of Cyrus the Great (c. 559–530 BCE)

1. Cyrus succeeds Cambyses I in Anshan

   Jan 1, 559 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Anshan

   • Britannica
   • Iranica

2. War with the Medes begins

   Jan 1, 553 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Medes

   • Iranica
   • Britannica

3. Cyrus overthrows Astyages and takes Ecbatana

   Jan 1, 550 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Astyages, Ecbatana

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

4. Persian control expands after the Median victory

   Jan 1, 549 BCELabels: Achaemenid Persia

   • Britannica
   • Iranica

5. Cyrus defeats Croesus; Sardis falls

   Jan 1, 546 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Croesus, Sardis

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

6. Victory at Opis breaks Babylonian resistance

   Oct 1, 539 BCELabels: Battle of, Persian army

   • Iranica
   • Britannica

7. Sippar captured by Persian forces

   Oct 10, 539 BCELabels: Sippar, Persian forces

   • Iranica
   • Britannica

8. Babylon taken by the Persians

   Oct 12, 539 BCELabels: Babylon, Persian army

   • Britannica
   • Iranica

9. Cyrus enters Babylon in triumph

   Oct 29, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Babylon

   • Iranica
   • Britannica

10. Cyrus Cylinder produced as Babylon foundation deposit

    Jan 1, 538 BCELabels: Cyrus Cylinder, Akkadian inscription

    • BritMuseum
    • Wikidata
    • WHE

11. Cyrus authorizes Judean return and temple rebuilding

    Jan 1, 538 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Judean return

    • Britannica
    • COJS

12. Cyrus killed during eastern campaign

    Jan 1, 530 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Massagetae

    • Britannica
    • Iranica
    • LC