Cyrus THE YOUNGER

Cyrus THE YOUNGER, the second of the sons of Darius Nothus (or Ochus) and Parysatis, was born in 424 B.C. He conspired against his brother Artaxerxes Mnemon, who had succeeded to the throne (404 B.C.). The plot, however, being discovered, he was at first sentenced to death, but afterwards pardoned, and even restored to his dignity as satrap of Asia Minor. Here he employed himself in making arrangements for war against his brother, although he concealed his purposes to the very last. In the spring of 401 B.C. he left Sardis at the head of 100,000 Asiatics and 13,000 Greek mercenaries, under pretence of chastising the robbers of Pisidia. Artaxerxes being warned of Cyrus's perfidy, made preparations to oppose him, and the two armies encountered each other in the plains of Cunaxa, 500 stadia from Babylon. Cyrus was defeated and slain, although the Greeks fought with the greatest courage, and even routed that portion of Artaxerxes' troops immediately opposed to them. The fortunes of the Greeks, on their retreat through the highlands of Armenia, in severe winter-weather, are recorded by Xenophon in his Anabasis (q.v.).