SECTION I. CYRUS RAISES TROOPS AGAINST HIS BROTHER ARTAXERXES. * WE have already said that young Cyrus, son of Darius Nothus and Parysatis, saw with pain his elder brother Artaxerxes upon the throne, and that at the very time the latter was taking possession of it, he had attempted to deprive him of his crown and life together. Artaxerxes was not insensible of what he had to fear from a brother of his enterprising and ambitious spirit, but could not refuse pardoning him to the prayers and tears of his mother Parysatis, who doated upon this youngest son. He removed him therefore into Asia to his government, confiding to him, contrary to all the rules of policy, an absolute authority over the provinces left him by the will of the king his father. As soon as he arrived there, his thoughts were solely intent upon revenging the supposed affront he had received from his brother, and to dethrone him. He received all that came from the court with great favour and affability, to induce them insensibly to quit the king's party, and adhere to him. He gained also the hearts of the barbarians under his government, familiarizing himself with them, and mingling with the common soldiery, though without forgetting the dignity of their general. These he formed by various exercises for the trade of war. He applied particularly in secret to raise from several parts, and upon different pretexts, a body of Grecian troops, upon whom he relied much more than upon those of the barbarians. Clearchus retired to his court after having been banished from Sparta, and was of great service to him, being an able, experienced, and valiant captain. At the same time several cities in the province of Tissaphernes, revolted from their obedience in favour of Cyrus. This incident, which was not an effect of chance, but of the secret practices of that prince, gave birth to a war between them. Cyrus, under the pretence of arming against Tissaphernes, assembled troops openly, and to amuse the court the more speciously, sent grievous complaints to the king against that governour, demanding his protection and aid in the most submissive man ner. Artaxerxes was deceived by these appearances, and believed that all Cyrus' preparations regarded only Tissaphernes, and continued quiet, from the assurance of having nothing to apprehend for himself. Cyrus well knew how to improve the imprudent security and indolence of his brother, which some people conceived the effect of his goodness and humanity. And indeed in the beginning of his reign he seemed to imitate the virtues of the first Artaxerxes, whose name he bore; for he demeaned himself with great mildness and affability to such as approached him; he honoured and rewarded magnificently all those whose services had merited favour; when he passed sentence to punish, it was without either outrage or insult; and when he made presents it was with a gracious air, and such obliging circumstances as infinitely exalted their value, and implied that he was never better pleased than when he had an opportunity of doing good to his subjects. To all these excellent qua'ities it had been ve ry necessary for him to have added one no less royal, and which would have put him upon his guard against the enterprises of a brother, whose * A. M. 3600. Ant. J. C. 404. Diod. 1. xiv. p. 245-249, et 252. Justin. 1. v. c. 11. Xenophon de Cyri Exped. 1. i. p. 213-248. †A. M. 3801. Ant. J. C. 408. t A. M. 3602. Ant. J. C. 402. Plut in Artax. p. 1014. character he ought to have known; I mean a wise foresight, that penetrates the future, and renders a prince attentive to prevent or frustrate whatever may disturb the tranquility of the state. The emissaries of Cyrus at the court were perpetually dispersing reports and opinions amongst the people, to prepare their minds for the intended change and revolt. They talked that the state wanted a king of Cyrus' character; a king, magnificent, liberal, who loved war, and showered his favours upon those that served him; and that it was necessary for the grandeur of the empire to have a prince upon the throne, fired with ambition and valour for the support and augmentation of its glory. * The young prince had lost no time on his side, and hastened the execution of his great design. He was then 23 years old at most. After the important services he had done the Lacedæmonians, without which they had never obtained the victories that had made them masters of Greece, he thought he might safely open himself to them. He therefore imparted to them the present situation of his affairs, and the end he had in view; convinced that such a confidence could not but incline them the more in his favour. In the letter he wrote them, he spoke of himself in very magnificent terms. He told them he had a greater and more royal heart than his brother; that he was better versed in philosophy and the † knowledge of the Magi, and that he could drink more wine without being disordered in his senses; a very meritorious quality amongst the barbarians, but not so proper to recommend him to the opinion of those he wrote to. The Lacedæmonians sent orders to their fleet to join that of the prince immediately, and to obey the commands of Tamos his admiral in all things, but without the least mention of Artaxerxes, or seeming in any manner privy to his design. They thought that precaution nescessary for their justification with Artaxerxes, in case affairs should happen to terminate in his favour. The troops of Cyrus, according to the review afterwards made, consisted of 13.000 Greeks, which were the flower and chief force of his army, and of 100,000 regular men of the barbarous nations. Clearchus, the Lacedæmonian, commanded all the Peloponnesian troops, except the Achaans, who had Socrates of Achaia for their leader. The Boeotians were under Proxenes the Theban, and the Thessalians under Menon. The barbarians had Persian generals, of whom the chief was Ariæus. The fleet consisted of 35 ships under Pythagoras the Lacedæmonian, and of 25 commanded by Tamos the Egyptian, admiral of the whole fleet. It followed the land army, coasting along the shore. Cyrus had opened his design only to Clearchus of all the Greeks, foreseeing aright that the length and boldness of the enterprise could not fail of discouraging and disgusting the officers as well as soldiers. He made it his sole application to gain their affections during the march, by treating them with kindness and humanity, conversing freely with them, and giving effectual, orders that they should want for nothing. Proxenes, between whose family and Xenophon's an ancient friendship subsisted, presented that young Athenian to Cyrus, who received him very favourably, and *A. M. 3603. Ant. J. C. 401. t By the knowledge of the Magi, amongst the Persians, was meant the science of religion and government. 1 Quærentes apud Cyrum gratiam; et apud Artaxerxem, si vicisset, venia patrocinia, cum nihil adversus eum aperte decrevissent Justin. 1. v. c. 11. Xenoph., 1. ii. p. 291. Xenoph. Cyri Exped. 1. i. p. 252. gave him an employment in his army amongst the Greeks. He set out for Sardis at length, and marched towards the upper provinces of Asia. The troops knew neither the occasion of the war, nor into what countries they were going. Cyrus had only caused it to be given out that he should act against the Pisidians, who had infested his provinces by their incursions. * Tissaphernes, rightly judging that all these preparations were too great for so small an enterprise as against Pisidia, had set out post from Miletus to give the king an account of them. This news occasioned great trouble at court. Parysatis, the mother of Artaxerxes and Cyrus, was looked upon as the principal cause of this war; and all persons in her service and interest were suspected of holding intelligence with Cyrus. Statira especially, the reigning queen, reproached her incessantly in the most violent terms. "Where is now," said she, to her, "that faith that you have so often engaged for your son's behaviour? Where those ardent prayers you employed to preserve from death that conspirator against his king and "brother? It is your unhappy fondness has kindled this war, and plunged us into an abyss of misfortunes." The antipathy and hatred of the two queens for each other was already very great, and much enflamed by such warm reproaches. We shall see what consequences they have. Artaxerxes assembled a numerous army to receive his brother. Cyrus advanced continually by great marches. What troubled him most on the way was the pass of Cilicia, which was a narrow defile between very high and steep mountains, that would admit no more than one carriage to pass at a time. Syennesis, king of the country, prepared to dispute this passage with him, and would infallibly have succeeded, but for the diversion made by Tamos with his fleet, in conjunction with that of the Lacedaemonians. To defend the coasts against the insults of the fleet, Syennesis abandoned that important post, which a small body of troops might have made good against the greatest army. When they arrived at Tarsus, the Greeks refused to march any farther, rightly suspecting that they were intended against the king, and loudly exclaiming that they had not entered into the service upon that condition. Clearchus, who commanded them, had occasion for all his address and ability to stifle this commotion in its birth. At first he made use of authority and force, but with very ill success, and desisted therefore from an open opposition to their sentiments: he even affected to enter into their views, and to support them with his approbation and credit. He declared publicly, that he would not separate himself from them, and advised them to depute persons to the prince, to know from his own mouth against whom they were to be led, that they might follow him voluntarily if they approved his measures: if not, that they might demand his permission to withdraw. By this artful evasion he appeased the tumult, and made them easy, and they chose him and some other officers for their deputies. Cyrus, whom he had secretly apprized of every thing, made answer, that he was going to attack Abrocomas ‡ his enemy, at twelve days march from thence upon the Euphrates. When this answer was repeated to them, though they plainly saw against whom they were going, they resolved to proceed, and only demanded an augmentation of their pay. Cyrus, instead of one daric || a month to each soldier, promised to give them one and a half. † Xenoph. I. i. p. 248–261. *Plut. in Artax. p. 1014. It is not said where he commanded. It appears to be upon the Euphrates. He marched with 300,000 men to join the king's army, but did not arrive till after The daric was worth ten livres, the battle. * Some time after, Cyrus was informed that two of the principal officers, upon account of a private quarrel with Clearchus, had deserted with part of their equipage on board of a merchant ship. Many were of opinion that it was proper to send two galleys after them; which might be done with great ease; and that when they were brought back, they should be made an example, by suffering death in the sight of the whole army. Cyrus, convinced that favour was the most certain means to the attainment of affection, and that punishments, like violent remedies, ought never to be used but in extreme necessity, declared publicly, that he would not suffer it to be said that he had detained any one in his service by force; and added, that he would send them their wives and children, whom they had left as hostages in his hands. An answer of so much wisdom and generosity had a surprising effect, and made even those his firm adherents who were before inclined to retire. This is an excellent lesson for all who govern. There is in the mind of man a fund of natural generosity, which it is necessary to know and apply. Threats exasperate them, and chastisement makes them revolt, when endeavours are used to force them to do their duty against their will. They desire a certain degree of confidence in their honour, and that the glory of acquitting themselves of it out of choice be left in their power. To show that you believe men faithful, is often the best means to make them so. Cyrus soon after declared that he marched against Artaxerxes; upon which some murmuring was heard at first, but it soon gave place to expressions of joy and satisfaction, occasioned by that prince's magnificent promises to the army. As Cyrus advanced by long marches, he was informed from all parts that the king did not intend to come directly to a battle, but had resolved to wait in the remote parts of Persia till all his forces were assembled ; and that to stop his enemies, he had ordered an intrenchment to be thrown up in the plains of Babylonia, with a fosse of five fathoms broad, and three deep, extending the space of twelve || parasangas, or leagues, from the Euphrates to the wall of Media. Between the Euphrates and the fosse a way had been left of 20 feet in breadth, by which Cyrus passed with his whole army, having reviewed it the day before. The king had neglected to dispute this pass with him, and suffered him to continue his march towards Babylon. It was Tiribasus who determined him not to fly in such a manner before an enemy, against whom he had infinite advantages, as well from the number of his troops as the valour of his generals. He resolved therefore to advance against the enemy. *Beneficiis potius quam remediis ingenia experiri placuit. Plin. in Traj. Nescio an plus moribus conferat princeps, qui bonos esse patitur, quam qui cogit. Plin. ibid. Plerumque habita fides ipsam obllgat fidem. Liv. ‡ Plut. in. Artax. p. 1014. Xenoph. l. i. p. 261–266. The Parasanga is a measure of ways peculiar to the Persians. It was commonly 30 stadia, which make about a league and a half French. Some were from 20 to 60 stadia. In the march of Cyrus' army, I suppose the parasanga only 20 stadia, or one league, for reasons I shall give hereafter. SECTION II. THE BATTLE OF CUNAXA.-CYRUS IS KILLED. THE place where the battle was fought, * was called Cunaxa, about 25 leagues from Babylon. The army of Cyrus consisted of 13,000 Greeks, 100,000 barbarians, and 20 chariots armed with scythes. The enemy in horse and foot might amount to about 1,200,000, under four generals, Tissaphernes, Gobryas, Arbaces, and Abrocomas, without including 6000 chosen horse, that fought where the king was present, and never quitted his person. But Abrocomas, who had the command of 300,000 men, did not arrive till five days after the battle. In the king's army were only 150 chariots armed with scythes. Cyrus believed, from the enemy's not having defended the pass at the fosse, that there would be no battle; so that the next day the army marched with great negligence. But on the third, Cyrus being in his chariot, with few soldiers in their ranks before him, and the rest marching without any order, or having their arms carried for them, an horseman came in ful speed, crying out as he passed, that the enemy approached in order of battle. Upon this great confusion ensued, from the apprehension that they should not have time to draw up the army. Cyrus, leaping from his chari✩ ot, put on his arms immediately, and getting on horseback with his javelin in his hand, he gave orders universally to the troops to stand to their arms, and fall into their ranks; which was executed with so much expedition, that the troops had not time to refresh themselves. Cyrus posted upon his right 1000 Paphlagonian horse, supported by the Euphrates, and the light armed infantry of the Greeks; and next them, Clearchus, Proxenes, and the rest of the general officers, to Maemon at the head of their several corps. The left wing, composed of Lydians, Phrygians, and other Asiatic nations, were commanded by Ariæus, who had 1000 horse. Cyrus placed himself in the centre, where the chosen troops of the Persians and other barbarians were posted. He had around him 600 horsemen, armed at all points, as were their horses, with head and breast pieces. The prince's head was uncovered, as were those of all the Persians, whose custom it was to give battle in that manner; the arms of all his people were red, and those of Artaxerxes were white. A little before the onset, Clearchus advised Cyrus not to charge in person, but to cover himself in the rear of the Grecian battalions. "What is. "it you say?" replied Cyrus. "At the time I am endeavouring to make "myself king, would you have me show myself unworthy of being so?" That wise and generous answer proves that he knew the duty of a gene ral, especially on a day of battle. Had he withdrawn when his presence was most necessary, it would have argued his want of courage and intimidated others. It is necessary, always preserving the due distinction between the leader and the troops, that their danger should be common, and no one exempted from it, lest the latter should be alarmed by a different conduct. Courage in an army depends upon example, upon the desire of being distinguished, the fear of dishonour, the incapacity of doing otherwise than the rest, and the equality of danger. The retiring of Cyrus had either ruined, or greatly weakened all these potent motives, by discouraging as well the officers as soldiers of his army. He thought that being * Xenoph. in Exped. Cyr. l. i. p. 263-266. Diod. 1. xiv. p. 253, 254. Plut p. 1014-1017. |