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EncyclopediaCambysesCambyses (kămbī'sēz) [key], two kings of the Achaemenid dynasty of Persia. Cambyses I. was king (c.600 B.C.) of Ansham, ruling as a vassal of Media. According to Herodotus he married the daughter of the Median king Astyages; some scholars dispute this. Cambyses' son was Cyrus the Great. Cambyses II,. d. 521 B.C., was the son and successor of Cyrus the Great and ruled as king of ancient Persia (529–521 B.C.). He disposed of his brother Smerdis in order to gain unchallenged rule. He invaded Egypt, defeating (525 B.C.) Psamtik at Pelusium and sacking Memphis. His further plans of conquest in Africa were frustrated, and at home an impostor claiming to be Smerdis raised a revolt. Cambyses died, possibly by suicide, when he was putting down the insurrection. Darius I succeeded him. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. More on Cambyses from Infoplease:
- Cambyses - Cambyses (3 syl.). A pompous, ranting character in Preston's lamentable tragedy of that name. ...
- Smerdis - Smerdis Smerdis , d. c.528 B.C., second son of Cyrus the Great, king of Persia. He is also called ...
- Astyages - Astyages Astyages , fl. 6th cent. B.C., king of the Medes (584–c.550 B.C.), son and successor ...
- Pelusium - Pelusium Pelusium , ancient city of Egypt, on the easternmost branch of the Nile (long since silted ...
- Amasis II - Amasis II Amasis II, d. 525 B.C., king of ancient Egypt (569–525 B.C.), of the XXVI dynasty. ...
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