Cambyses II
Second Achaemenid king who conquered Egypt and died childless.
Cambyses II, the second King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, ruled from 530 to 522 BCE. He was the eldest son of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane. His reign was short but eventful, defined by campaigns in North Africa. He conquered Egypt by defeating Pharaoh Psamtik III at the Battle of Pelusium in 525 BCE, and later expanded Achaemenid control into Cyrenaica, the coastal region of eastern Libya. In spring 522 BCE, a revolt in Persia forced him to leave Egypt quickly. While traveling to Syria, he suffered a thigh wound that became gangrenous. He died three weeks later in Agbatana, likely modern Hama. Having no children, his younger brother Bardiya succeeded him. Bardiya’s rule was brief; he was soon overthrown by Darius the Great.
The name “Cambyses” (Old Persian: Kaᵐbūjiya) has disputed origins. Some scholars trace it to Elamite, while others link it to the Kambojas, an Iranian people of northwestern India. In other languages, it appears as Elamite Kanbuziya, Akkadian Kambuziya, and Aramaic Kanbūzī.
Cambyses was the eldest son of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane. He had a younger brother, Bardiya, and three sisters: Artystone, Atossa, and Roxanne. His paternal grandfather was Cambyses I, king of Persis from 600 to 559 BCE. The family descended from a line of Persian tribal rulers who, starting with Cyrus in Anshan, expanded by subjugating the Median Empire, the Neo-Babylonian Empire, Lydia, and Central Asia to create the Achaemenid Empire.
In April 538 BCE, Cyrus appointed Cambyses governor of northern Babylonia, including Babylon. Before this, Cambyses had participated in the New Year festival on 27 March 538 BCE at the Esagila temple, where he received the royal scepter. His governorship lasted only nine months; Cyrus dismissed him in December 538 BCE for unknown reasons. Afterward, Cambyses mostly lived in Babylon and Sippar. Babylonian records show that both Cambyses and Cyrus held the title “King of Babylon, King of the Lands” in 538/7 BCE, suggesting Cyrus had made him co-ruler years before the Massagetae campaign. Cyrus’s younger son, Bardiya, received a realm in Central Asia exempt from tribute. Cambyses reportedly joined the expedition against the Massagetae but was sent back to Persia as heir. After Cyrus fell, Cambyses had his father’s body buried in a prepared tomb at Pasargadae.
Cambyses’s accession was smooth. He maintained authority over the empire and sought to expand into Egypt, the last major Near Eastern power. This was not a random ambition; Cyrus had already planned to unify Babylonia with the Trans-Euphrates region, which required conquering lands between the Euphrates and Nile, bringing conflict with Egypt. Pharaoh Amasis II, ruling since 570 BCE, had allied with Polycrates of Samos, whose raids threatened Achaemenid authority. Polycrates later broke with Egypt and contacted Cambyses, likely due to pressure from Spartans and Samian aristocrats. Another former ally of Amasis, the Carian commander Phanes of Halicarnassus, also joined Cambyses after escaping assassination. Before invading Egypt, Cambyses seized Cyprus from Amasis, weakening the pharaoh.
By 526 BCE, Amasis II had died, succeeded by his son Psamtik III. Cambyses built up his forces, creating a navy from Phoenician and Asia Minor resources. During his march to Egypt, he made a treaty with Arabs controlling the desert between Gaza and Egypt, securing passage.
- born
- Unknown (son of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane)
- died
- 522 BCE in Agbatana (likely modern Hama)
- field
- Monarch, military conqueror
- nationality
- Persian (Achaemenid)
- known_for
- Conquest of Egypt; expansion of Achaemenid Empire into North Africa
Lore & Background
Cambyses II was the eldest son of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane. He had a younger brother, Bardiya, and three sisters: Artystone, Atossa, and Roxanne. Before his accession, Cambyses was governor of northern Babylonia under his father Cyrus from April to December 538 BCE. He held positions in Babylon and Sippar. In 530 BCE, his father made him co-ruler. Cyrus then set off on an expedition against the Massagetae of Central Asia, where he met his end. Cambyses thus became the sole ruler of the vast Achaemenid Empire. According to chroniclers, he faced no opposition. His reign focused on expanding the empire, particularly into Egypt. In 525 BC, Cambyses invaded Egypt and defeated Pharaoh Psamtik III at the Battle of Pelusium. He captured Memphis and established a Persian-Egyptian garrison there. By summer, all of Egypt was under Persian suzerainty. The Libyans, and soon the Greeks of Cyrene and Barca, willingly acknowledged the authority of Cambyses. He established a garrison in Elephantine. Cambyses wanted to attack the Phoenician state of Carthage but never did so due to his Phoenician subjects' reluctance. According to Herodotus, Cambyses's campaigns against Ammon in the Siwa Oasis and Kush ended in catastrophe, but this is disputed by other sources and archaeological evidence suggests Achaemenid control of Nubia. Cambyses died childless in 522 BCE from a gangrenous thigh wound, succeeded by his younger brother Bardiya, who was then overthrown by Darius the Great.
Reader's Guide
Cambyses II's significance lies in his successful conquest of Egypt, which brought the last major Near Eastern power under Achaemenid control and extended the empire's reach into Africa. His reign, though brief, demonstrated the administrative and military capabilities of the early Achaemenid state. However, his legacy is complicated by ancient accounts, particularly Herodotus, who portrayed him as mad and reckless—a view disputed by modern scholars like Pierre Briant. Cambyses died childless in 522 BCE from a gangrenous thigh wound, leading to a succession crisis: his brother Bardiya ruled briefly before being overthrown by Darius the Great (r. 522–486 BC), who went on to increase the power of the Achaemenids further. Cambyses's conquests laid the groundwork for Persian control of Egypt and Libya, which lasted for over a century. In accordance with Egyptian royal custom, Cambyses took the titles of 'king of Upper and Lower Egypt' and 'descendant of (the gods) Ra, Horus, Osiris.' At Sais, Cambyses had himself crowned in the temple of the goddess Neith, making sacrifices to the Egyptian gods. According to ancient historians, his rule was marked by brutality, looting temples, and defilement of royal tombs, but no looting of temples has been reported by contemporary Egyptian sources.
Did You Know?
- Cambyses II was the eldest son of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane, and had a younger brother named Bardiya and three sisters: Artystone, Atossa, and Roxanne.
- Before becoming king, Cambyses served as governor of northern Babylonia from April to December 538 BCE, and was made co-ruler by his father in 530 BCE.
- He conquered Egypt in 525 BCE by defeating Pharaoh Psamtik III at the Battle of Pelusium, and later took Cyrenaica in eastern Libya.
- Cambyses died childless in 522 BCE from a gangrenous thigh wound received en route to Syria, and was succeeded by his brother Bardiya.
- According to Herodotus, Cambyses used cats, sheep, and dogs—animals sacred to Egyptians—in the front lines at Pelusium to force the Egyptians to cease using their war engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cambyses II?
Cambyses II was the second Achaemenid 'King of Kings,' ruling the Persian Empire from 530 to 522 BCE. He was the son of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane, inheriting a realm that already spanned much of the Near East.
What is Cambyses II most famous for?
He is best known for conquering Egypt in 525 BCE after defeating Pharaoh Psamtik III at the Battle of Pelusium. That single victory brought the entire Nile Valley under Achaemenid control for the first time.
How did Cambyses II expand the empire into North Africa?
After securing Egypt, he pushed further west to take Cyrenaica, the coastal strip of what is now eastern Libya. This made the Achaemenid dynasty the first Persian ruling house to hold territory on the African continent.
How did Cambyses II's reign end?
In the spring of 522 BCE he was forced to abandon Egypt in a hurry to suppress a revolt back in Persia. He died that same year in Agbatana (likely modern Hama) without leaving a surviving heir, which immediately triggered a succession crisis.
Why does Cambyses II matter for the history of Africa and the Near East?
His campaigns permanently tied the Nile Valley and the Libyan coast to the Persian imperial system, reshaping the political landscape of the eastern Mediterranean. His childless death also set off the internal conflicts that nearly tore the Achaemenid state apart.
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