Cambyses I ( Kambūjiya) was king of Anshan from c. 580 to 559 BC and the father of Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II), younger son of Cyrus I, and brother of Arukku. He should not be confused with his better-known grandson Cambyses II.
Etymology
The origins of the name of "Cambyses" () is disputed in scholarship; according to some scholars, the name is of
Elamite language origin, whilst others associate it with
Kambojas, an
Iranian peoples who inhabited northwestern India. The name of Cambyses is known in other languages as: Elamite
Kanbuziya; Akkadian
Kambuziya;
Aramaic Kanbūzī.
Background
No records composed during Cambyses' lifetime have survived. Cambyses was an early member of the Achaemenid dynasty. He was apparently a great-grandson of its founder
Achaemenes, grandson of
Teispes and son of Cyrus I. His paternal uncle was
Ariaramnes and his first cousin was
Arsames.
However, around 100 years later, Herodotus claimed that Cambyses I was a Vassal state of the Median state king Astyages and, he solidified his political standing through marriage to one of Astyages' daughters, whose name wasn't explicitly said by Herodotus. This alliance likely helped in securing the support or Neutral country of Median state as his son, Cyrus, began his military campaigns that eventually led to the founding of the Persian Empire. His role was essential in the transition from a minor regional rule in Anshan to the larger ambitions of the Achaemenid dynasty that dominated much of the ancient Near East.
Personal life
According to
Herodotus, Cambyses was "a man of good family and quiet habits". He reigned under the overlordship of
Astyages, King of
medes. He was reportedly married to
Princess Mandane of Media, a daughter of Astyages and Princess
Aryenis of Lydia. His wife was reportedly a granddaughter of both
Cyaxares of
medes and Alyattes of Lydia. The result of their marriage was the birth of his successor Cyrus the Great. According to Nicolas of Damascus, his original name was Atradates, and he was wounded and later died in the Battle of the Persian Border which he, with his son, fought against Astyages. It occurred in about 551 BC, and he is reported to have received an honorable burial.
Also according to Herodotus, Astyages chose Cambyses as a son-in-law because he considered him to pose no threat to the Median throne, having dreamt his daughter would give birth to one who would rule Asia, overthrowing Astyages. This was not quite the case with Cyrus the Great who would go on to depose his grandfather, and to begin the Persian Empire.
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