The Life Of Cyrus; Cyropaedia, Xenophon

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 Collector

Comparisons 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.

Get a copy of Cyropaedia. 

In praise of a Spartan King; Agesilaus, Xenophon

 Why you might read Agesilaus?

Agesilaus is often seen as the first biography. It details the achievements of Agesilaus II. It is said to be one of Xenophon's lesser works. That should not overshadow its importance to the genre of biography. Nor should it diminish how it helps to round out the understanding of Xenophon's work. An easy read that strikes the balance between recording the truth and readability.

Synopsis of Agesilaus

Xenophon starts his tribute to Agesilaus by detailing his victories as the king. These start in the subduing of Asia against the Persians. He then finds himself recalled due to problems at home. Xenophon then details his victories around the greek sphere. He includes the victories not won by might but by cunning or diplomacy. Xenophon then moves on to the character of Agesilaus. He details how religious he was, even respecting the temples of foreign gods. He adds how trustworthy his word and oaths were. He describes his humility and simple lifestyle and contrasts it with the king of the Persians. He gives stories from Agesilaus' life to underline his point in all these things. Xenophobe finishes with a summary of his points. In this, he admits that this reads like a eulogy of only the high points. He then tries to assure the reader that this is really how Agesilaus was.

Reflections on Agesilaus

It is hard at first to see past Xenophon's praise. Everything seems to be perfect, all the battles won. Xenophon does directly address this at the end of the work. It is also worth noting that the victories are because of good management. That and not going to a battle that he could not win. That being said he was still willing to take a chance.

It is interesting how many categories Xenophon broke Agesilaus' character down into. He separates his humility from his religiosity from his trustworthiness. While he doesn't use the same examples they can be at times very similar. This can make it hard to remember the specifics of the text.

I thought that Xenophon's inclusion of what he calls his urbanity. The idea that this was a powerful man that still did the simple things. Things like small talk or talking over a friend's problems. It adds an interesting highlight to the painting of his character. I would think most biographical authors would find it superfluous. That being said its inclusion does round out the view of this great king of Sparta.

What others have to say about Agesilaus

"The Agesilaus (Greek: Ἀγησίλαος) is an account of the life of King Agesilaus II of Sparta by Xenophon, one of the earliest examples of biographical writing." From Tom Griffin

"The Agesilausis an odd work. It praises the Spartan king Agesilaus as the champion and defender of Greeks: the text is imbued with the highly politicised language of Greek-barbarian opposition." From a paper by Rosie Harman

Comparisons to other texts

Thucydides' History focuses on a war between the Greeks and Persia. It covers whichever kings and citizens were in power. By contrast, Agesilaus follows one king of Sparta. Agesilaus details the myriad of wars he fought over the course of his kingship. But it does start with his war against Persia. It also does so in a lot less detail and strikes a better balance between accuracy and readability. Agesilaus is set after Thucidides' History and is affected by its outcome. Finally, Thucudides' History covers the war in Greece. At the same time, Agesilaus takes the war to the Persians in Asia.

The Peloponnesian war covers Greeks at war with each other. Agesilaus covers many things, but it also covers some battles on the greek peninsula. The Peloponnesian war gives the hegemony we see here. This allows for collecting forces for the war in Persia to be led by Sparta. Agesilaus is written later and it is from that hegemony that we get the war in Asia.

Conclusion

Agesilaus reads like a eulogy and Xenophon even admits this late in the book. There is no doubting that Agesilaus was a great king of Sparta but the book is very one-sided on his greatness. Xenophon was a great friend of Agesilaus II and shows him in a very positive light. It covers both battles and Agesilaus' character to give a fairly complete view of his achievements. 

Have you read Agesilaus? If so what did you think of it? 

 

Want to read Agesilaus 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.

Get a copy of Agesilaus.