The history of the world

§. II. [unspec 30] By what meanes the Empire was translated from the Medes to the Persians.

HOW the Kingdome of the Medes fell into the hands of Cyrus, it is a doubt not sufficiently cleared by Historians, but rather their diffe∣rent relations of his beginnings haue bred the former opinion of those who giue the conquest of Babel to the Persian only. For some there are who denie that Astyages had any other Successour than Cyrus his Grand-child by Mandane. Whereas Ctesias on the contrarie side affir∣meth, [unspec 40] that Cyrus was no way descended from Astyages (whom hee calleth Astigas or Apinia) but onely that hauing vanquished him in battaile, and confined him to Bactria, hee married his Daughter Amytis. But I finde the relations of Ctesias often cited and seldome followed, and himselfe sometimes very iustly reproued of will∣full vntruth.

Viginier a diligent and learned Historian of this age, produceth many probable reasons that Astyages had no such sonne as Cyaxares, or Darius Medus; and to con∣firme his opinion, the more he citeth Diodore, Iustine, Strabo, Plato, Aristotle, Iso∣crates, and before them Castor, Thallus, and Phlegon, who doe not finde any such Successour. Neither doe Tatianus, Theophilus, Antiochenus, Iulius Affricanus, Clemens Alexandrinus, Iustine Martyr, Lactantius, Eusebius, S. Hierome, or S. Augustine, [unspec 50] make report out of any faithfull Author by them read, that hath giuen other Son or Successour to Astyages than Cyrus.

Yet seeing that this manner of argument ab authoritate negatiuè, doth neuer in∣force

consent; we may bee the bolder (all this great list of noble Writers by him alleaged notwithstanding) to affirme that either Astyages himselfe must haue been Darius of the Medes, which cannot agree with his place in the course of time; Or* 1.1 else to giue him some other Successour, according to Iosephus, and Xenophon, the* 1.2 same whom Daniel calleth Darius. For it is manifest, and without dispute, that the* 1.3 King of the Medes commanded in chiefe, and was absolute Lord of that Con∣quest, Cyrus during his life, being no other then the Lieutenant of his Armie, and subiect to his authoritie; The strength of both Nations, to wit, the Medes and Persians, with other the Vassalls of Darius, being ioyned together to com∣pound it. [unspec 10]

But it is very certaine that the honour of that great victorie ouer Babylon was wholly giuen to Cyrus, who was the instrument preordained and forenamed by God himselfe, not onely for his action, but for the deliuerie of his Church; a grea∣ter worke in the eies of God, than the subuersion of any State or Monarchie, how powerfull soeuer.

And it may well be thought, that the Souldiers imployed in that seruice did rather ascribe the glorie to him that was the best man of Warre, than to the Median, who was greatest in riches and power. All which also falling vpon Cyrus by succession, and continuing in his posteritie, did much augment the same of his ver∣tue, which among prophane Historians ouergrew altogether the honour due to [unspec 20] Cyaxares, both because he was old, and did nothing in person; as also because hee soone after quitted the world, and left all to Cyrus, who was possest of whatsoe∣uer belonged to Darius, before the fame of any such King or Conquerour was car∣ried farre off.

And for the Greeke Historians, they tooke all things from the relations of the Persians, who gaue to Cyrus all the praise of a most excellent Prince, making none his equall. Only Daniel in the first, fift, and sixt Chapters of his prophecies, makes it plaine, that himselfe not onely liued a great Officer vnder King Darius, but that hee continued in that estate to the first of Cyrus; which being the yeere of Daniels death, could not haue bene distinguished from the raigne of Darius, if they [unspec 30] had begunne together and raigned ioyntly; Neither can it bee imagined that Darius held the Kingdome by Cyrus permission, considering that Cyrus beganne after him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 1. c. 19.
• * 1.2

  Ios. an. l. 10. c. 13
• * 1.3

  Xeu. l. 8. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.