The Median Empire
The Medes are widely considered the direct ancestors of the Kurdish people -- a connection celebrated every year on Newroz. Around 700 BCE, Deioces (Diyako) united the six Median tribes -- the Busae, Paretaceni, Struchates, Arizanti, Budii, and Magi -- and founded the capital Ecbatana (modern Hamadan) with its legendary seven concentric walls. After a 28-year Scythian interlude, his grandson Cyaxares transformed the Median military into a professional force with specialized cavalry and archer units. Cyaxares forged an alliance with Babylon that brought down the mighty Assyrian Empire with the fall of Nineveh on August 10, 612 BCE -- one of the most consequential events in ancient history. At its height, the Median Empire stretched from northeastern Iran to central Anatolia, rivaling Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia as one of the four great powers. The empire fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia in 550 BCE, but the Medes remained a privileged people within the Achaemenid system.
Key Events
- Medes first mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions of Shalmaneser III (c. 836 BCE)
- Deioces (Diyako) unites six Median tribes and founds Ecbatana (~700 BCE)
- Phraortes expands Median territory, killed fighting Assyria (c. 675-653 BCE)
- Scythian interlude: nomadic Scythians dominate Media for 28 years (c. 653-625 BCE)
- Cyaxares reorganizes the Median army into professional specialized units (625 BCE)
- Cyaxares allies with Nabopolassar of Babylon against Assyria (616 BCE)
- Fall of Nineveh: Medo-Babylonian coalition destroys Assyrian capital (August 10, 612 BCE)
- Battle of Halys between Medes and Lydians ended by solar eclipse (May 28, 585 BCE)
- Median Empire reaches greatest extent under Cyaxares, from Zagros to Anatolia
- Cyrus the Great of Persia overthrows last Median king Astyages (550 BCE)
- Newroz celebrated as the anniversary of Median victory over Assyria
Key Figures
Founder and first king of the Median state (r. ~700-647 BCE). United the six Median tribes and built the legendary capital Ecbatana with seven concentric walls.
King of the Medes (r. 625-585 BCE), called "the Lion of the East." Reorganized the Median army and forged the alliance with Babylon that destroyed the Assyrian Empire at Nineveh in 612 BCE.
Phraortes (Fravartish)
Son of Deioces (r. ~675-653 BCE), expanded Median territory and conquered the Persians, but was killed in battle against the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal.
Last king of the Median Empire (r. 585-550 BCE). Overthrown by his grandson Cyrus the Great of Persia, ending the Median dynasty but not the cultural influence of the Medes.