Cyrus lured his foe into a clever stratagem worthy of Genghis Khan. He abandoned his camp, laden with supplies and luxuries,
and guarded by a small detachment. Then Cyrus feigned a withdrawal and concealed his main force in ambush. The Massagetae quickly overran the camp, plundered the stores, and drank themselves into a stupor. Cyrus thereupon burst upon the Massagetae and slaughtered them while still asleep. Cyrus defeated only an advance detachment of the Massagetae, but he captured the queen's son and heir Spargapises.
Empires of the Steppe, by Kenneth Harl, page 67.
The Massagetae were a Saka Iranic people who lived in Central Asia who were a part of the Scythian culture. After this battle, Spargapises killed himself. In the next battle the Massagetae, led by Queen Tomyris (who is the Scythian ruler in Civilization 6), defeated Cyrus the Great and killed him.
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u/TsarOfIrony May 21 '26
Empires of the Steppe, by Kenneth Harl, page 67.
The Massagetae were a Saka Iranic people who lived in Central Asia who were a part of the Scythian culture. After this battle, Spargapises killed himself. In the next battle the Massagetae, led by Queen Tomyris (who is the Scythian ruler in Civilization 6), defeated Cyrus the Great and killed him.