Cambyses (son of Cyrus)
Family: Persian · Role: Cyrus's son · First appears: Book 1 · §111–116
As Cyrus’s son and a Persian, Cambyses was given Croesus into his hands by his father. He later succeeded to the royal power as the son of Cyrus and Cassandane, daughter of Pharnaspes.
In Book 3, Nitetis was sent to him, though it was believed Cambyses intended her as a concubine rather than a wife. He marched upon Egypt against Psammenitos, while Croesus accompanied him; after the campaign began, Cambyses made Psammenitos sit in the city’s suburb to dishonour him. During this period, Cambyses took Phaidyme as his wife.
Cambyses’ later actions included striking Apis in the thigh, ordering the death of his brother Smerdis, and sending Prexaspes, the Persian he trusted most, to kill him. Croesus sat with the Persians in council and counselled Cambyses in goodwill, while Patizeithes rose against him after perceiving that Smerdis’s death was being kept secret.
Relationship record
Book 1 · §204–211
- parent: Cyrus “Cyrus delivered Croesus into the hands of his son Cambyses”
Book 2 · §1–8
- parent: Cyrus (Cyrus is Cambyses's father.) “Cambyses received the royal power in succession, being the son of Cyrus and of Cassandane the daughter of Pharnaspes”
- parent: Cassandane (Cassandane is Cambyses's mother.) “Cambyses received the royal power in succession, being the son of Cyrus and of Cassandane the daughter of Pharnaspes”
Book 3 · §1–8
- parent: Cyrus “Against this Amasis then Cambyses the son of Cyrus was making his march”
- with Nitetis (Cambyses intended Nitetis to be his concubine.) “for he was well assured that Cambyses did not intend to have her as his wife but as a concubine.”
- parent: Cassandane “when she saw standing by the side of Cassandane children comely of form and tall, she was loud in her praises of them, expressing great admiration; and Cassandane, who was the wife of Cyrus, spoke as follows: ”
Book 3 · §9–14
- enemies with Psammenitos “Meanwhile Psammenitos the son of Amasis was encamped at the Pelusian mouth of the Nile waiting for the coming of Cambyses: for Cambyses did not find Amasis yet living when he marched upon Egypt,”
- with Croesus (Croesus accompanied Cambyses to Egypt.) “Croesus shed tears (for he also, as fortune would have it, had accompanied Cambyses to Egypt)”
- with Psammenitos (interaction) “Cambyses set the king of the Egyptians Psammenitos, who had been king for six months, to sit in the suburb of the city, to do him dishonour”
- parent: Cyrus