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Croesus Biography

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CRŒSUS (Gk. Kroisos). A Lydian king of the Mermnadæ line. The son of Alyattes, whom he succeeded, he flourished in the sixth century B.C. He came to the throne about the age of 35 (560 B.C.), and found the wrangling Æolians, Dorians, and Ionians an easy prey, but he did not press his advantage as conqueror beyond the exaction of tribute. Save Lycia and Cilicia, all Asia Minor west of the Halys fell before him. His ability in practical affairs soon made his wealth a proverb. His capital, Sardis, became the brilliant centre of arts and letters, and Crœsus was a munificent patron. Herodotus asserts (i, 29 ff.) that Solon visited his court, and that, when asked by Crœsus whether the possessor of so great riches might not be deemed the happiest of men, he replied in effect that no man can be called happy who is yet alive; to be called happy he must have a fortunate death. When the long peace of the kingdom was evidently about to be disturbed by the encroaching Persians under Cyrus the Great (q.v.), Crœsus formed a league with the Lacedæmonians, and sought the aid also of Nabonidos of Babylon. He tried to propitiate the gods by bestowing rich gifts upon Apollo's shrine, and, encouraged by the oracle's deliverance that he "would destroy a great empire," he determined to take the offensive. With his Lydian forces only, he joined battle with the enemy, but achieved no advantage-a failure which he attributed to the inadequate support of his mercenaries. Returning to Sardis, he called upon the Lacedæmonians for their promised aid and invited the assistance of the Egyptian King, Amasis, meaning to renew the contest early in the next year. Cyrus, however, forced immediate action. Crœsus, almost totally unprepared, was defeated at Thymbra and, after a short siege of Sardis, surrendered his capital. After a reign of 14 years he gave up his crown to the Persian. The oracle spoke truth--he destroyed a great empire, but it was his own. Herodotus further relates that, as the Lydian awaited the fire which, by command of Cyrus, was to consume him, he remembered his conversation with the Athenian philosopher and called out "Solon, Solon, Solon!" Desiring to know the reason of the exclamation. Cyrus heard the story and straightway commanded that the victim be spared. But the fire was by this time blazing vigorously. However, through Apollo's intercession merciful rain fell, and Crœsus was saved from the flames now raging about him. Recently, however, on the basis of a newly discovered poem of Bacchylides (q.v.), iii, 22 ff., it has been held that Crœsus had sought to escape capture by burning himself with his treasures, but that he was unable to effect his purpose. Consult How and Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, vol. i, pp. 99-100 (Oxford 1912); Jebb, Bacchylides (London, 1905). Crœsus, given a residence near Ecbatana, was taken into his conqueror’s favor and later into that of Cambyses. To both monarchs he is said to have rendered valuable service as a counselor, and both he survived. His end is not known.