Cyrus the Great's decisive victory over Croesus ended Lydian independence and incorporated the wealthy kingdom into the Achaemenid Empire.
Key Facts
- Date
- December 547 BC
- Location
- Plain north of Sardis, Lydia
- Lydian army size
- Approximately twice the size of Cyrus's force
- Siege of Sardis duration
- 14 days days
- Outcome
- Decisive Persian victory; Lydia conquered
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the indecisive Battle of Pteria, Cyrus pursued Croesus back into Lydia. Croesus had partially disbanded his army intending to reassemble it with allied forces, but Cyrus pressed his campaign before reinforcements could fully materialize, forcing a confrontation on the plain north of Sardis.
On the plain north of Sardis in December 547 BC, Cyrus II of the Achaemenid Empire engaged Croesus's Lydian army, which was roughly twice the size of his own force and had been partially reinforced. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Cyrus achieved a complete and decisive victory over the Lydian forces.
Following the battle, Cyrus besieged Sardis for fourteen days, after which the city fell. Croesus's fate remained uncertain, but Lydia was fully absorbed into the Achaemenid Empire, ending the Lydian Kingdom and bringing Persia into direct contact with Greek colonies on the Aegean coast.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great).
Side B
1 belligerent
Croesus.