CYRUS II. was the younger son of Darius Nothus and of Parysatis, and the brother of Artaxerxes. He was sent by his father, at the age of sixteen, to assist the Lacedæmonians against the Athenians. Artaxerxes succeeded to the throne at the death of Nothus; and Cyrus, who was of an aspiring soul, attempted to assassinate him. But he was discovered, and would have been punished with death, had not his mother Parysatis saved him from the hands of the executioner by her tears and entreaties. This circumstance did not in the least check the ambition of Cyrus; he was appointed satrap of Lydia and of Asia Minor, where he secretly fomented rebellion, and levied troops under various pretences. At last he took the field with an army of one hundred thousand barbarians, and thirteen thousand Greeks, under the command of Clearchus; and Artaxerxes met him with nine hundred thousand men near Cunaxa. The battle was long and bloody, and Cyrus might perhaps have obtained the victory, had not his uncommon rashness proved his ruin. It is said that the two royal brothers met in person, and that their engagement ended in the death of Cyrus, four hundred and one years before the Augustan age. Artaxerxes was so anxious to have it universally reported that his brother had fallen by his hand, that he put to death two of his subjects for boasting that they had killed Cyrus. The Greeks who were engaged in the expedition obtained much glory in the battle, and after the death of Cyrus they remained victorious in the field without a commander. Though at the distance of above six hundred leagues from their country, and surrounded on every side by a powerful enemy, they were not discouraged. Having united in the election of commanders, they traversed all Asia, in spite of the continual attacks of the Persians; and nothing is more truly celebrated in ancient history than the bold and masterly retreat of the Ten Thousand. The journey which they made from the time of their first embarkation till their return has been calculated at 1155 leagues, performed in the space of fifteen months, including the time devoted to rest and refreshment. This retreat has been
celebrated by Xenophon, who was one of the leaders of his countrymen, and the friend and supporter of Cyrus.