The history of the world

§. I. That the Medes were chiefe actors in the subuersion of the [unspec 20] Babylonian Empire.

THE Line of Belochus being now extinguished in Bal∣thasar, the Empire of Babylon, and of Assyria, was ioy∣ned first to that of Media, which then was gouerned by Cyaxares or Darius Medus, after whom Cyrus became Lord and Monarch, both of Assyria and of Media it selfe.

Of the race of Phul Belochus there were ten Kings besides himselfe, and of Arbaces as many are found [unspec 30] by Metasthenes. These two Prouinciall Gouernours hauing cut downe the last branch of Ninus in Sarda∣napalus, diuided betweene them the Easterne Empire. Cyaxares (whom the Scriptures call Darius Medus) the last of the race of Arbaces, dying about two yeeres after that the line of Belochus was ended in Balthasar; the Dominions aswell of the Conquerour, as of the conquered, fell to a third Familie, namely, to Cyrus of the house of Achaemenes, the Princes of which bloud raigning in Persia, had formerly beene dependants on the Medes, and were of as little power at home, as of fame abroad in the World.

Of the Family of the Achaemenes, and Line of the Persian Kings, we shal hereafter [unspec 40] finde occasion in due place to intreat.

The Nation of the Medes descended from Madai the third sonne of Iaphet; that they had Kings soone after the floud, Lactantius and Diodorus haue found re∣cord; For Lactantius remembreth an ancient King of the Medes called Hydaspes, and Diodor speaketh of Pharnus with his seuen Sonnes, slaine by the Assyrian in the beginning of their Empire.

But of these who succeeded Arbaces the first, that freed his Nation from the Assyrians. I take the list and number from Eusebius, adding Darius Medus: of whom I haue spoken in their proper places heretofore; and they are these. [unspec 50]

• Arbaces. Who raigned 28. yeeres.
• Sosarmus. Who raigned 30. yeeres.
• Medidus. Who raigned 40. yeeres.
• Cardiceas. Who raigned 13. yeeres.
• Diocles. Who raigned 53. yeeres.
• Phraortes. Who raigned 24. yeeres.
• Cyaxares. Who raigned 32. yeeres.
• Aslyages. Who raigned 38. yeeres.
• Darius Medus. Who raigned

And though the Greekes ascribe the conquest of Babylon to Cyrus alone, yet the [unspec 10] Scriptures teach vs that Darius was not onely King of Media, and had the Persians his followers, but that the Armie victorious ouer Balthazar was his; as the Assy∣rian and Babylonian Empire also was during his owne life. For wee finde in Daniel, that Darius of the Medes tooke the Kingdome being threescore and two yeres old: And further, what Officers it pleased him to set ouer the Kingdome. And so was it prophecied by Isay long before: Behold, I will stirre vp the Medes against them, &c.* 1.1 And by IEREMIE; The Lord hath raised vp the Spirit of the King of the Medes: for his purpose is against Babel to de destroy it; and in the eigth and twentieth Verse, Pre∣pare against her the Nations, with the King of the Medes, the Dukes thereof, the Princes [unspec 20] thereof, and all the Land of his Dominion. These Scriptures Iulius Affricanus doth well open, who taking authoritie from Diodor, Castor, Thallus, and others, deliuereth that Babylon was taken before Cyrus beganne to raigne, which also agreeth with Strabo, where he saith, That as the Medes were subiugated by the Persians, so be∣fore* 1.2 that, both the Babylonians and Assyrians were mastered by the Medes. And ther∣fore the reports of Iustine, and Herodotus, are not to be receiued, who attribute the taking of Babylon to Cyrus alone.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 13. v. 17. 51 v. 11. & 28.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 16.