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Battle of Cunaxa

Battle of Cunaxa
Battle of Cunaxa.jpg
19th Century English School depiction of the Battle of Cunaxa
Date 3 September 401 BC [1]
Location On the banks of the Euphrates near present-day Baghdad, Iraq
Result Tactical draw
Strategic victory for Artaxerxes II of Persia
Thousands of Greek mercenaries march home against opposition
Territorial
changes
Legitimate Persian king still alive and in full control of the empire.
Belligerents
Cyrus the Younger Flag of the Acahemenid empire during the battle of Cunaxa.png Achaemenid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Cyrus the Younger 
Clearchus
Ariaeus
Artaxerxes II
Gobrias
Tissaphernes
Strength
Large force of Persian soldiers
10,400 mercenary hoplites
2,500 mercenary light infantry and peltasts
1,000 Paphlagonian cavalry
600 bodyguard cavalry
20 scythed chariots
40,000
Casualties and losses
Minimal, death of Cyrus Unknown

Coordinates: 33°19′29.48″N 44°04′46.33″E / 33.3248556°N 44.0795361°E / 33.3248556; 44.0795361

The Battle of Cunaxa was fought in 401 BC between Cyrus the Younger and his elder brother Arsaces, who had inherited the Persian throne as Artaxerxes II in 404 BC. The great battle of the revolt of Cyrus took place 70 km north of Babylon, at Cunaxa (Greek: ), on the left bank of the Euphrates. The main source is a Greek eyewitness and soldier, Xenophon.

Cyrus gathered an army of Greek mercenaries, consisting of 10,400 hoplites and 2,500 light infantry, and, peltasts, under the Spartan general Clearchus, and met Artaxerxes at Cunaxa. He also had a large force of levied troops under his second-in-command Ariaeus. The strength of the Achaemenid army was 40,000 men.

When Cyrus learned that his elder brother, the Great King, was approaching with his army, he drew up his army in battle array. He placed the Greek mercenaries on the right, near the river. In addition to this they were supported on their right by some cavalry, 1,000 strong, as was the tradition of battle order in that day. To the Greeks, this was the place of honor. Cyrus himself with 600 body guards was in the center, to the left of the Greek mercenaries - the place where Persian monarchs traditionally placed themselves in the order of battle. Cyrus' Asiatic troops were on the left flank.


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