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.
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
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,

Thymbra, 546 BC
Strength
Lydians

Persians

Croesus

Cyrus the Great

40,000

30,000

Well

Well
By Jonathan Webb,

Middle East c.600 BC

The battlefield is flat with no major features or obstacles.

Lydians
(Croesus)

Persians
(Cyrus)

Croesus
deploys
his superb
Lydianhis
cavalry
the
wings,
his Lydian
Egyptian
mercenary
phalanx
at his
center
in a large
and
hismissiles,
chariots
front ofto
it.
He
The
Persian
right
wing
cavalry
begin
roll
up
the
left
wing
as
chariots
and
archers
shower
itcreating
with
adding
its
Cyrus
personally
leads
right
rear
cavalry
to envelop
the
left
wing
Lydian
cavalry
while
the
Persian
left
Croesus
The
Lydian
Persian
sweeps
dismounted
left
wing
around
cavalry
cavalry
theontothe
Persian
turns
fight
to
valiantly
square
enclose
with
but
the
their
his
Egyptian
great
lances
infantry
cavalry
prove
unwieldy
in
wings,
ainblock,
large
and
ring.
ineffective;
The
a in
huge
Egyptian
they
gap
wishes
to lengthen
his linethe
to further
envelop
Persian
army butfrom
his Egyptian
mercenaries
insist they
fight
best the
such
a deep
formation.
Cyrus
deploys
disorder.
Meanwhile,
Lydian
right
wing
dismounts
its
frightened
horses
and
renews
attack
but
it
too
is
showered
rear
follow
his
lead
and
charge
the
Lydian
right
wing;
the
Persian
camel
cavalry
frighten
the
Lydian
horses
his
infantry
inoffer
athem
hollow
square
only
a few
men
deep
on each
with
and
missile
within
and
somerouts.
chariots
in
front.
He
keeps
his
cavalry
between
rout
infantry
soon
after
brief,
and
the
bloody
Lydian
his
center.
resistance
left
wing
His
before
center
is side
completely
surrendering.
isarchers
held
outflanked
up
bytowers
the
and
vanguard
itself
Persian
Seeing
chariots
the
enemy
which
with
missiles
andrear
disordered.
Intothe
center,
the
Egyptian
phalanx
shoves
thethe
Persian
infantry
back
the
siege
towers which
and chariots
onaway.
the
wings, ready
pounce
on the
Lydian
flanks.infantry
Cyrus personally
leads
right rear
while
the
left upon
features
riders
on baggage
which
run
Meanwhile,
the
Persian
center
rush
to
engage
the
Egyptian
infantry
phalanx
which
unexpectedly
rout,
Cyrus
leads
charge
histhe
cavalry
Lydian
tochariots,
attack drive
the Egyptian
them from
infantry
the field,
phalanx
and smash
in theinto
rear,
his relieving
infantry. camels
the
temporarily
halt
the
infantry.
to
act as cavalry
after
an Egyptian
officer notices
that Lydian horses panic at the scent of them.

is
advancing
steadily.
battered
Persian
infantry.
Lydians

Lydians

(Croesus)

(Croesus)
40,000
Lydians

Persians

Infantry

Infantry

Cavalry

Archers

Chariots

Cavalry
Camelry
Chariots
Missile tower

Persians
(Cyrus the Great)
30,000

Symbol guide

Persians
(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 Empires 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,

The Art of Battle:

Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb,