Cyrus the Great
Founder of the Achaemenid Empire
"I am Cyrus, King of the World, Great King, Legitimate King, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the Four Corners of the Earth."โ Cyrus Cylinder
Biography
Cyrus II of Persia, commonly known as Cyrus the Great, founded the Achaemenid Empire, which comprised most of the ancient Near East.
He is famous for his military conquests, defeating the Median Empire, the Lydian Empire, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
Beyond his conquests, he is renowned for his policy of religious tolerance and respect for the customs of conquered peoples, famously allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem.