Cyrus II (the Great)

King of Persia (r.559-30 BC) who founded the Achemenid empire by overthrowing the Median King Astyages and appropriating his extensive empire. He destroyed his main rival to the west, Croesus of Lydia, in Asia Minor (547-546 BC) and annexed Babylonia (539 BC). Cyrus was known for diplomacy as well as the use of force. His eastern campaigns and fortress-building (546-530 BC) consolidated the empire, but he was killed in battle on the frontier in 530 BC.