Thymbra

[?], 546 BC
Strategic Context
In 559 BC, Cyrus deposes Astyages of Media and begins to consolidate his new Persian state, which he
accomplishes by 549 BC when he captures the Median capital of Ecbatana. However, he must confront a
challenge in the west from Croesus of Lydia who wishes to restore his brother-in-law Astyages to the throne.
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Croesus organizes an alliance with Egypt and Babylon, crossing the Halys River to invade Persia in 547 BC.
Cyrus marches to meet Croesus and a sharp, indecisive battle is fought at Pteria. Croesus withdraws across
the Halys into winter quarters and sends many of his mercenaries home but Cyrus does not oblige and soon

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follows Croesus. At first, Croesus does not believe the rumours of Cyrus’ march through Anatolia but must
hastily reassemble an army when the Persians approach his capital of Sardis. Though not as greatly as that
autumn, Croesus still outnumbers Cyrus when they meet on the Plain of Thymbra.

Stakes
+ A Lydian victory would put Cyrus in an
extremely vulnerable position in enemy
territory.
+ A Persian victory would force Croesus
inside the walls of his capital where he
would be besieged and his lands pillaged.

By Jonathan Webb, 2010

 Thymbra, 546 BC
Strength

Lydians Persians

Croesus Cyrus the Great

40,000 30,000

Well Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2010

Middle East c.600 BC
The battlefield is flat with no major features or obstacles.

Lydians
(Croesus)

Persians
(Cyrus)
Croesus deploys his superb Lydian cavalry on the wings,
The
Cyrus
to
Persian
Croesus
The Persian
Lydian right
sweeps
personally
further envelop the
wing
dismounted
left wing
leads
Persian
cavalry
around cavalry
his
armywing
begin
cavalry
the
right
but his
tofight
Persian
turns
rear tohis
roll up
cavalry Egyptian
the
valiantly
square
enclose
Egyptian mercenaries
mercenary
toLydian butleft
with
the
envelop his phalanx
wing
Egyptian
their
the
insist they fight
greatasatwing
lances
left
best in
his center
chariots
infantry
such
cavalry
proveinand
Lydian a large
wings, block, and
archers
inunwieldy
a large
cavalry
a deep formation.
creating
Cyrus
his chariots
shower
ring.
and
while
deploys
itawith
The in front
ineffective;
the
his
huge
Egyptian
Persian ofleft
gap it. Headding
missiles,
infantry in a with
they wishesfollow
between
infantry
rear
hollowmissiles
rout to
square only
tolengthen
its
offer
soon
them
a few
his his line
disorder.
brief,
after
and
lead
men deep
Meanwhile,
and charge the theLydian right
Lydian right dismounts
wing; the from its
Persian frightened
camel horses
cavalry and renews
frighten the
the attack
Lydianbut it too
horses is showered
which run away. and
Meanwhile, disordered.
the
his
the
bloody
In
center.
on each
the
Lydian
resistance
side withHis
center,
left center
wing
archers
the
before
and
Egyptian
isiscompletely
missile
phalanx
held
surrendering.
towers up
within
shoves
by outflanked
and
the
the
somevanguard
chariots
Persian
inand
infantry
Persian
front.itself
back
He keepsrouts.
upon
chariots Seeing
his cavalry
the siege
andwhich the
chariots
towers
unexpectedly
onenemy
which
the rout,
rear wings,
temporarily
charge
Cyrus
ready
halt
to
the
pounceleads
theonLydian
Egyptian
thehis
Lydian
infantry.
cavalry
chariots, to
flanks. Cyrus
Persian center
drive them
attack the infantry
Egyptian
from rushand
the field, to phalanx
infantry engage
smashthe
in
intoEgyptian
the
his
rear, infantry phalanx
infantry.
relieving which is
the battered advancing
Persian steadily.
personally leads the right rear while the left features riders on baggage camels to act as cavalry after an officer notices that Lydian horses panic at the scent of them.
infantry.
Lydians Lydians
(Croesus)
(Croesus)
40,000

Lydians Persians
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Archers
Chariots Cavalry
Camelry C

Chariots
Missile tower

Persians
Symbol guide
(Cyrus the Great)
Persians
30,000 C (Cyrus)
 Thymbra, 546 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Lydians: Persians:

? ?
or or
? ?

Croesus and much of his army withdrew to the walls of Sardis, which Cyrus
besieged, and then stormed after two weeks. Out of honour and compassion for
Croesus, Cyrus granted him a high position in the new Persian Empire’s court. The
conquest of Lydia allowed Cyrus to turn east and invade Babylonia in 539 BC,
laying the foundations for the vast Persian Empire.

By Jonathan Webb, 2010

 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2010