battle of cunaxa
Proper noun A historical military engagement that took place in 401 BC near the town of Cunaxa, north of Babylon. It was the decisive clash in a rebellion led by Cyrus the Younger against his elder brother, King Artaxerxes II of Persia. Although Cyrus's forces, which included a large contingent of Greek mercenaries known as the Ten Thousand, performed well, Cyrus himself was killed, ending the rebellion. The battle is primarily significant in Western history for its detailed account in Xenophon's Anabasis, which describes the Greek army's subsequent long retreat to the Black Sea.
The term is used to refer specifically to this historical event. It is typically preceded by the definite article "the." * The Battle of Cunaxa marked the end of Cyrus the Younger's attempt to seize the Persian throne. * Historians study the tactics at the Battle of Cunaxa. * Xenophon's account of the Battle of Cunaxa and its aftermath is a classic of military literature.
- The battle is often cited in discussions of ancient military history, Greek mercenary service, and Persian imperial politics.
- It serves as a key case study for the effectiveness of Greek hoplite infantry against Persian forces in a foreign campaign.
- Cunaxa: The location itself, often used metonymically to refer to the battle.
- The March of the Ten Thousand / The Retreat of the Ten Thousand: Refers to the epic journey of the Greek mercenaries the Battle of Cunaxa, as narrated in Xenophon's .
- There are no direct synonyms for this proper noun referring to a unique historical event. It can be described more generally as a decisive battle or a pitched battle.
- Cyrus the Younger: The rebel prince who commanded the attacking army.
- Artaxerxes II: The reigning Persian king who defended his throne.
- The Ten Thousand (Greek Mercenaries): The professional infantry core of Cyrus's army.
- Xenophon's Anabasis: The primary historical source detailing the battle and the subsequent retreat.
- battle in 401 BC when the Artaxerxes II defeated his younger brother who tried to usurp the throne