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[[File:Medo-Persia - Achaemid Family Tree - inc Otanes & Cyaxares II.PNG|250px|thumb|right|The Median and Persian Family Tree, showing the intermarriage of the royal houses to create the Medo-Persian Empire ]]

[[File:Medo-Persia - Achaemid Family Tree - inc Otanes & Cyaxares II.PNG|250px|thumb|right|The Median and Persian Family Tree, showing the intermarriage of the royal houses to create the Medo-Persian Empire ]]

'''Astyages''', Akkadian '''Ishtumegu''', king of [[Medes|Media]] / of the [[Medes]], son of [[Cyaxares I]]; father [[Mandane]] (and thereby grandfather to [[Cyrus|Cyrus "the Great"]]) and the possible [[Cyaxares II]].  Generally recognised as the last king of said empire ruling from 585<small>BC</small> to 550<small>BC</small> before being deposed by [[Cyrus]].  Meanwhile debate does exist that the throne passed to the alleged [[Cyaxares II]] before passing to the Persian [[Cyrus]].

'''Astyages''', Akkadian '''Ishtumegu''', king of [[Medes|Media]] / of the [[Medes]], son of [[Cyaxares I]]; father of [[Mandane]] (and thereby grandfather to [[Cyrus|Cyrus "the Great"]]); and father to the possible [[Cyaxares II]].  Generally recognised as the last king of said empire ruling from 585<small>BC</small> to 550<small>BC</small> before being deposed by [[Cyrus]].  Meanwhile debate does exist that the throne passed to the alleged [[Cyaxares II]] before passing to the Persian [[Cyrus]].

=== Arguments for Succession to Cyaxares II ===

=== Arguments for Succession to Cyaxares II ===

The name [[Cyaxares II]] comes to us predominantly from [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] ''Cyropedia'' who allegedly campaigned as a commander with [[Cyrus|Cyrus "the Great"]].  In the which volume [[Xenophon]] recorded a detailed military history of Cyrus' doings in the which ''Astyages'' dies of old age and passes the throne to his son [[Cyaxares II]].

The name [[Cyaxares II]] comes to us predominantly from [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] ''Cyropedia'' who allegedly campaigned as a commander with [[Cyrus|Cyrus "the Great"]] which makes him the closest thing to a first hand witness that we have.  In the which volume [[Xenophon]] recorded a detailed military history of Cyrus' doings in the which ''Astyages'' dies of old age and passes the throne to his son [[Cyaxares II]].

The name ''Cyaxares'' also appears twice on the [[Bihestun (Inscription)|Bihestun Inscription]] as two of the nine rebels conquered by [[Darius I]] claimed to be "of Cyaxares".  The only question remaining since the inscription's first translation has been: Is this a reference to [[Cyaxares I|Cyaxares II]] the father of ''Astyages'' or to [[Cyaxares II|Cyaxares]] the son of Astyages?

The name ''Cyaxares'' also appears twice on the [[Bihestun (Inscription)|Bihestun Inscription]] as two of the nine rebels conquered by [[Darius I]] claimed to be "of Cyaxares".  The only question remaining since the inscription's first translation has been: Is this a reference to [[Cyaxares I|Cyaxares II]] the father of ''Astyages'' or to [[Cyaxares II|Cyaxares]] the son of Astyages?

Many have concluded that this must be [[Darius the Mede]] from [[Josephus|Josephus']] assertion that that he was the son of ''Astyages'' and was known to the [[Greeks]] by another name.

Many have concluded that this must be [[Darius the Mede]] from [[Josephus|Josephus']] assertion that that he was the son of ''Astyages'' and was known to the [[Greeks]] by another name.

== References ==

== References ==