Battle of the Persian Border

Battle of the Persian Border
Part of the Persian Revolt
Date 551 BC? Location On the road between Ecbatana and Pasargadae, on the Persian side of the border between Media and Persis Result Median Empire strategic victory
Belligerents
Median Empire	Persis
Commanders and leaders
Astyages of Media, unknown others	Cambyses I Right  (WIA), Cyrus the Great Centre, Oebares Left, unknown others
Strength
120,000 to 200,000? cavalry,[1] 3,000 chariots[2]	50,000 cavalry,[3] 100 chariots,[4] unknown amount of peasants defending the city walls
Casualties and losses
Heavy[5]	Light[6]

The Battle of the Persian Border was the second encounter between the forces of Media and Persia. Though not a decisive victory for Persia, it signaled the diminishing power of Media in Southwest Asia. It was the first battle Cambyses I had fought in, and the first which he had fought with his son, Cyrus the Great. The first major battle, which lasted two days, was an attempt to bring freedom to Persia. It also prompted the Persians to retire south, and fight a third battle.

It was narrated by Nicolaus of Damascus, among others, who also mentioned the Battle of Hyrba, but Herodotus does not mention this battle.^[7] Most historians on the battle consider Herodotus to be mentioning only the first and last battles in the war, which is partly based on the description of his two battles.^[8] At the border this became the first major battle between the two powers.^[9] Cyrus managed to escape the enemy without retreating, thus ending the battle and prolonging the struggle without a complete victory for Astyages, the king of the Medes. The next battle, the Battle of Pasargadae, became the last stand for the Persians; as their very existence relied on the outcome.