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The Persian Conquest of Egypt (525 BCE) - Cambyses II and the Fall of the Pharaohs
In 525 BCE, the ancient kingdom of Egypt, once a dominant power in the Near East, fell under the control of the expanding Persian Empire. This pivotal event marked the end of Egypt's 26th Dynasty (Saite Period) and the beginning of its incorporation into the Achaemenid Empire under King Cambyses II.
By the 6th century BCE, Egypt had experienced periods of both resurgence and decline. The Saite rulers (26th Dynasty) had restored stability after centuries of fragmentation and foreign domination (including Assyrian rule). Pharaoh Psamtik III, the last native ruler of this dynasty, ascended the throne just as Persia, under Cyrus the Great, was expanding westward.
The Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, had already conquered Lydia (546 BCE) and Babylon (539 BCE). Egypt, weakened by internal strife and reliant on Greek mercenaries, became the next target. Cambyses II, Cyrus's son and successor, sought to secure Egypt's wealth and strategic position along the Mediterranean.
The decisive confrontation occurred at Pelusium, a key fortress in the Nile Delta. According to Greek historian Herodotus, Cambyses used clever tactics—including placing cats (sacred to Egyptians) on Persian shields to exploit Egyptian religious taboos—to demoralize Psamtik III's forces. The Egyptians were defeated, and Memphis fell shortly after.
The Persian conquest ended Egypt's golden age of independence, integrating it into a vast imperial system. While resented by many Egyptians, Persian rule introduced administrative reforms and facilitated cultural exchanges across the empire.
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