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Thus after a reign of thirty-five years, Astyages lost his crown,
and the Medes, in consequence of his cruelty, were brought under the
rule of the Persians. Their empire over the parts of Asia beyond the
Halys had lasted one hundred and twenty-eight years, except during
the time when the Scythians had the dominion. Afterwards the Medes
repented of their submission, and revolted from Darius, but were
defeated in battle, and again reduced to subjection. Now, however,
in the time of Astyages, it was the Persians who under Cyrus
revolted from the Medes, and became thenceforth the rulers of Asia.
Cyrus kept Astyages at his court during the remainder of his life,
without doing him any further injury. Such then were the circumstances
of the birth and bringing up of Cyrus, and such were the steps by
which he mounted the throne. It was at a later date that he was
attacked by Croesus, and overthrew him, as I have related in an
earlier portion of this history. The overthrow of Croesus made him
master of the whole of Asia.
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