Battle of Cunaxa
The Battle of Cunaxa, fought in 401 BCE near Babylon, was a significant conflict in which Cyrus the Younger attempted to seize the Persian throne from his brother, Artaxerxes II. Following the death of their father, Darius II, Cyrus, motivated by dissatisfaction with his prospects, gathered an army estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 men, which included notable Greek mercenaries led by the Spartan commander Clearchus. Artaxerxes II commanded a slightly larger force of around 30,000 troops, bolstered by a significant cavalry presence. The battle unfolded with Cyrus strategically positioning his Greek forces on the right flank, achieving initial success against the Persian left.
However, the tide turned dramatically when Cyrus, in a bold move, engaged Artaxerxes directly and was killed in the encounter. This loss demoralized his troops, leading to a retreat despite the Greeks having performed admirably on the battlefield. The aftermath of the battle revealed vulnerabilities within the Persian Empire, particularly against the skilled Greek hoplites. Notably, the Greek forces chose not to align with the victorious Artaxerxes and managed to return home, marking a significant moment in the dynamics of Greek-Persian relations. The Battle of Cunaxa remains a poignant example of the complexities of leadership, loyalty, and military strategy in ancient history.
Battle of Cunaxa
Related civilizations: Persia, Classical Greece.
Date: 401 b.c.e.
Locale: About 87 miles (140 kilometers) northwest of Babylon, near the Euphrates river
Background
Upon the death of Darius II, the elder of his sons, Artaxerxes II, came to the throne. Cyrus the Younger, unhappy with his prospects, revolted and tried to seize the throne. Cyrus’s army numbered between 20,000 and 30,000 men, including 2,600 horsemen. Artaxerxes had about 30,000 men, 6,000 of whom were on horses. The disparity in horsemen would cost Cyrus the victory at Cunaxa (kyew-NAK-suh).
Action
Cyrus successfully advanced through Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. He and Artaxerxes met near Babylon. Cyrus posted the Greeks, led by the Spartan Clearchus, on the right with the Paphlagonian horsemen to their right and the Euphrates on the extreme right flank. Cyrus held the center with his 600 horsemen while Ariaeus was placed on the left with the Asiatic troops. The satrap Tissaphernes and Artaxerxes held the center, with the king surrounded by the 6,000 horsemen. In the ensuing battle, Clearchus and the Greeks crushed the Persian left but Cyrus was slain while foolishly attacking his brother head-on. Ariaeus’s forces fought well but then fled after the news of Cyrus’s death had spread.
Consequences
The victorious Greeks refused to enroll under Artaxerxes and successfully marched home. The expedition demonstrated the vulnerability of the Persian Empire to the Greek hoplite.
Bibliography
Bigwood, J. M. “The Ancient Accounts of the Battle of Cunaxa.” American Journal of Philology 104 (1983): 340-357.
Cawkwell, G. Xenophon: The Persian Expedition. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books, 1972.
Hornblower, Simon. Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. 6. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1994.