Battle of Thymbra
Plain north of Sardis, Manisa Province, Turkey
What happened
Cyrus the Great of Persia fought King Croesus of Lydia, the ruler famous for his wealth. After an undecided battle at Pteria, Cyrus followed Croesus into Lydia and met his army on the plain north of Sardis. Cyrus put baggage camels in front of his archers, and the Lydian horses were thrown into confusion by their smell. Most of the Lydian infantry surrendered, and Croesus fell back to Sardis, which Cyrus then besieged and took.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Lydia became part of the Persian Empire, along with the Greek cities of Ionia and Aeolis. This brought Persia and the Greeks into contact and later conflict.
What came next
Croesus's kingdom ended with the fall of Sardis. Accounts of what happened to him differ, but several say Cyrus kept him as an adviser.
Did you know?
Croesus is credited with issuing the Croeseid, an early gold coin of standard purity, and people still say 'rich as Croesus'.
Timeline
- 550 BCECyrus overthrows the Median kingdom.
- 547 BCEBattle of Pteria, then Thymbra.
- 547 BCECyrus besieges and captures Sardis.