Why you might read Cyropaedia?
This short history details the life of Cyrus. It is told by Xenophon who does not overlap time-wise with Cyrus. It is a great look into the rise of the Persian Empire. It includes commentary about how Cyrus achieved it all. As well as how he made it harmonious at least for his lifetime. All in all, it is an easy-to-read little history of the Persians. In my Self Education project, it stands as a history of one of the great civilisations. Synopsis of Cyropaedia
Book I:
Xenophon gives the details of Cyrus' upbringing. This includes the time he spent with his grandfather with the Medes. It is here he learns horsemanship. The tail of the section is spent with a dialogue between Cyrus and his father. In this, they discuss what a commander of men really needs to know. It is far more than the tactics Cyrus has been formally taught. You must have the men feed and trust you to command an efficient force.
Book II:
This book looks at how Cyrus set up and trained the army that Persia sent to Medea. It explains the contests that were set up to motivate the men to train. Xenophon also spends some time telling stories of how Cyrus gave honour to the men. These rank from the lowest soldier to the highest captains. It finishes with an account of the dialogue with the masses. And how Cyrus got them to agree that they should be rewarded based on their accomplishments. This is in contrast to the status quo of all the soldiers being rewarded equally.Book III:
Here we follow Cyrus raising an army to help defend his grandfather's kingdom. Xenophon details how he trained and maintained the army. We follow the army to his grandfather's territory. Before they set out for the enemy Cyrus detours to get troops from a reluctant ally. While doing this he also manages to gain an extra ally. When they finally meet the enemy they charge with such ferocity that the enemy runs.
Book IV:
We see Cyrus take the army to chase the enemy. His grandfather does not want to but says he can take any of the Medes who will follow him. Cyrus convinces most of them. During the pursuit, one of the enemy's allies defects to Cyrus' forces and leads on as a guide. The enemy again flees and the Cavalry pursues. Cyrus decides that the Persians need their own cavalry. They will take the enemy horses that were left behind and learn. Cyrus takes so many prisoners and booty that he sends them to Persia for re-enforcements. About this time his grandfather realizes he has been left all but alone at the camp. He sends an angry message for the Medes to return. Cyrus sends a reply message that they have won the day which he hopes will calm his grandfather. Book V:
Cyrus' army takes on the Assyrians in battle and the king is killed. The Assyrians retreat and the son is elevated to king. Immediately a delegation comes to Cyrus offering to come to his side as the new king killed this lord's son. After a few more days another lord who the king had made into a eunuch also defects to Cyrus' side. Cyruses grandfather throws another wobbly upon coming to the front. He worries that he is being outdone by the honour guard that comes to greet him. Cyrus eventually pacifies him but not until he has given the older man back his pride.
Book VI:
Cyrus regroups. He puts to the troops the question of continuing the campaign. They all agree with his assessment that they need to press forward. Cyrus sends multiple spies to the Assyrian side at varying levels of importance. They all come back with the same report. The enemy is massing troops and securing outside help from the Egyptians. Cyrus constructs new chariots with scythes on the wheels to run through infantry. Cyrus marches the army onward until they see the dust of the enemy. They form up in battle array and get ready to fight.
Book VII:
Cyrus takes the army against the enemy and wins a resounding victory. He then takes one wealthy city and comes away with a lot of plunder and a city under his control. He then persuades the generals to continue the campaign. They then besiege Babylon. They take Babylon by re-directing the river that flows through the city. They used the dry bed to enter the city. Cyrus then sets himself up as king. But he explores the Persians who are with him to continue their lives of virtue. As well as training their sons in the same way as at home. Book VIII:
Xenophon describes how Cyrus sets up the running of his empire. The empire went well for Cyrus and he became known by the people as father. He does so by continuing the tradition of hardship for the nobles. He also continues as he did as a general and is lavish with gifts to recognize honourable men. Xenophon continues with an account of Cyrus knowing he will die and giving his last words of wisdom to his sons. But Xenophon does not stop there. He gives a brief account of the abandonment of Cyruses virtues in modern Persia.
Reflections on Cyropaedia
Cyropaedia is a concise little history. It might have overly rose-coloured glasses in its portrayal of Cyrus. There is no doubt, however, that he did great things and established an empire.
Xenophon's focus on the generosity and graciousness of Cyrus is interesting. He paints Cyrus as a saint of virtue and a firm believer in the providence of keeping your men happy. He is at all times at pains to show honour where honour is due. As well as making sure the army is fed and paid. At times he seems to focus too much on this but it always works well in his favour
I found Cyrus' adoption of the Median dress once he secures the Empire quite odd. He and his men are proud Persians and he emplores them to stay as such in their virtues. It seems counter to the rest of what he has done to give them a style of dress that is not Persian and also extravagant.
What others have to say about Cyropaedia
"CYROPAEDIA, a partly fictional biography of Cyrus the Great (559-29 b.c.e.), founder of the Achaemenid empire" From Encyclopaedia Iranica
"Instead, it was meant to instruct its readers, primarily the Greek elites, in matters of both politics and morality. Nonetheless, the Cyropaedia still offers a fascinating look at the life of Cyrus the Great." From The CollectorComparisons with other texts
Cyropaedia in some ways continues the themes of
On The Cavalry Commander. On The Cavalry Commander is entirely about how to organise and train troops. Cyropaedia by contrast has it mixed through an account of someone doing exactly. Though that is on a much larger scale. Cyrus organises and trains his troops with a similar ethos. This leaves me to wonder how much Xenophon took his theory from accounts of Cyrus.
Xenophon ends with a description of how Cyrus set up his Kingdom. This is very different to the details given in
The Constitution of the Lacedemonians. It seems the greatness of a state or empire is not attached to its system of government.
Conclusion
This is a nice Pseudohistory even if it was written as more of a moral text. It covers the life of Cyrus right from childhood and training. It continues all the way to Kingship, dying and instructing his sons. It gives an interesting insight into how the Greeks saw the Persian Empire. This is in spite of their conflicts.
Have you read Cyropaedia? If so what did you think of it?
Want to read Cyropaedia but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.
Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.
