Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Cyrus (The Younger)

CYRUS, surnamed The Younger, was son of Darius II., King of Persia, and Parysatis. In 407 B. C. he was made governor of the western provinces of Asia Minor. He was of ambitious temper, and was sentenced to death for plotting against his brother Artaxerxes on his accession to the throne, but was pardoned. Still determined to be king himself, he raised an army, including a large body of Greek mercenaries, crossed the Taurus, marched down the Euphrates, and at Cunaxa encountered the army of his brother, when he was defeated and slain, 401 B. C. Xenophon, who had served as a volunteer among the Greeks, conducted their retreat, and wrote an account of the expedition.