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minor changes, new section
<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>predecessor</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">[[Astyages]]</TD>
<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>predecessor</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">[[Astyages]]</TD>
<TR><TD><B>successor</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">[[Cyrus II the Great]]</TD></TR>
<TR><TD><B>successor</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">[[Cyrus II the Great]]</TD></TR>
<TR><TD><B>birth</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">unknown</TD></TR>
<TR><TD><B>birth</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">c.600 BC</TD></TR>
<TR><TD><B>death</B></TD><TD>Dec. 538 BC</TD></TR>
<TR><TD><B>death</B></TD><TD>Dec. 538 BC</TD></TR>
<TR><TD><B>spouse</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">unknown</TD>
<TR><TD><B>spouse</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">unknown</TD>
<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>father</B></TD><TD>Astyages</TD></TR>
<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>father</B></TD><TD>[[Astyages]]</TD></TR>
<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>mother</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">unknown</TD></TR>
<TR><TD VALIGN="top"><B>mother</B></TD><TD VALIGN="top">unknown</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</TABLE>
</FONT>
</FONT>
'''Cyaxares II''', who is claimed by some to also be known as '''Darius the Mede''', is the alleged son and successor of the legendary [[Astyages]], King of the [[Medes]] in [[Ecbatana]] who reigned from 561 to 536 BC according to Barnes’ Notes,<ref>Barnes' Notes on the Bible, Daniel 9:1.[https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/daniel/9.htm]</ref> but for whom a better ending date might be late 538 BC (see below). The generally accepted narrative is that the throne passed straight from [[Astyages]] to [[Cyrus the Great]].
'''Cyaxares II''', who is claimed by some to also be known as '''[[Darius the Mede]]''', is the alleged son and successor of the legendary [[Ahasuerus]], "King of Kings", [[Astyages]], King of the [[Medes]] in [[Ecbatana]] who reigned from 561 to 536 BC according to Barnes’ Notes,<ref>Barnes' Notes on the Bible, Daniel 9:1.[https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/daniel/9.htm]</ref> but for whom a better ending date might be late 538 BC (see below).
Since ''Cyaxares II'' does not appear in either the known imperfect [[Uruk King List]] or the [[Canon of Ptolemy]], the generally accepted narrative supported by the 'known-to-be' questionable [[Herodotus]], is that ''Cyaxares II'' is fictional and that the the throne of Media passed straight from [[Astyages]] to [[Cyrus the Great]].
== Original Sources ==
== Original Sources ==
The son of [[Astyages]], [[Cyaxares II]] (not to be confused with [[Cyaxares I]], father of [[Astyages]]) does not ''specifically'' exist in any surviving or currently available extant cuniform tablets or the likes; but he does possibly exist with a potential dual reference in the absolutely monumental [[bas-relief]] [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] (''see below'').
The son of [[Astyages]], [[Cyaxares II]] (not to be confused with [[Cyaxares I]], father of [[Astyages]]) does not ''specifically'' exist in any surviving or currently available extant cuniform tablets or the likes; but he does possibly exist with a potential dual reference in the absolutely monumental [[bas-relief]] [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] (''see below'').
Meanwhile the strongest ''specific'' literary evidence for his existence lies within the pages [[Xenophon|Xenohon's]] crowning work, the ''[[Cyropaedia]]'', who as a Greek military commander served in [[Cyrus the Younger|Cyrus']] army. This work was so highly prized by [[Alexander the Great]], that he made it his perpetual study;<ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'', Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref> by extension it was obviously also recommended to him by his mentor and tutor [[Aristotle]],<ref>[[Quintus Curtius Rufus]] History of Alexander, 1.9</ref>. Likewise did [[Julius Caesar]].<ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'' Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref> Meanwhile [[Scipio Africanus]] is reported to have carried it with him everywhere.<ref>Xenophon, 'Cyropaedia'', Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref> This combined with a possible identity match with [[Josephus|Josephus']] [[Darius the Mede|Darius, King of Media]],<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', 10.11.2.[https://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-10.htm]</ref> "the son of Astyages, [who] had another name among the Greeks"<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', 10.11.4.[https://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-10.htm]</ref> creates a good case. Compoundingly, two of the rebels listed in [[Darius I|Darius I's]] [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] claimed "to be of the family of Cyaxares": which has naturally created debate if these are references to [[Cyaxares I]] or to the possible [[Cyaxares II]]. Finally those who accept the [[Book of Daniel]] to be true, note that it was [[Darius the Mede]] who officially seized the kingdom,<ref>Daniel 5:31</ref> which happily correlates all three of these literary sources to their reasoning.
Meanwhile the strongest ''specific'' literary evidence for his existence lies within the pages [[Xenophon|Xenohon's]] crowning work, the ''[[Cyropaedia]]'', who as a Greek military commander served in [[Cyrus the Younger|Cyrus the Younger's]] army. This work was so highly prized by [[Alexander the Great]], that he made it his perpetual study;<ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'', Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref> by extension it was obviously also recommended to him by his mentor and tutor [[Aristotle]],<ref>[[Quintus Curtius Rufus]] History of Alexander, 1.9</ref>. Likewise did [[Julius Caesar]].<ref>Xenophon, ''Cyropaedia'' Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref> Meanwhile [[Scipio Africanus]] is reported to have carried it with him everywhere.<ref>Xenophon, 'Cyropaedia'', Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref> This combined with a possible identity match with [[Josephus|Josephus']] [[Darius the Mede|Darius, King of Media]],<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', 10.11.2.[https://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-10.htm]</ref> "the son of Astyages, [who] had another name among the Greeks"<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', 10.11.4.[https://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-10.htm]</ref> creates a good case. Compoundingly, two of the rebels listed in [[Darius I|Darius I's]] [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] claimed "to be of the family of Cyaxares": which has naturally created debate if these are references to [[Cyaxares I]] or to the possible [[Cyaxares II]]. Finally those who accept the [[Book of Daniel]] to be true, note that it was [[Darius the Mede]] who officially seized the kingdom,<ref>Daniel 5:31</ref> which happily correlates all three of these literary sources to their reasoning.
Alternatively, [[Cyaxares II]] does not appear in [[Ptolemy's Canon]]<ref>Livius, Ptolemy's ''Canon''. [https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/ptolemys-canon/]</ref> or the [[Uruk King List]].<ref>Livius, Uruk King List.[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/uruk-king-list/]</ref> But neither of these feature [[Belshazzar]] who became effective king of Babylon after his father [[Nabonidas]] capture now confirmed to us by the Nabonidus Cylinder (from Ur).<ref>Livius, ''Nabonidus Cylinder from Ur''.[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/nabonidus-cylinder-from-ur/]</ref><ref>Livius, ''ABC 7 (Nabonidus Chronicle)'', Column iii.16.[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/]</ref> Similarly [[Ptolemy's Canon|Ptolemy]] does not list [[Nerglissar|Nerglissar's]] son [[Labasi-Marduk]] while the [[Uruk King List|Uruk]] does.
Alternatively, [[Cyaxares II]] does not appear in [[Ptolemy's Canon]]<ref>Livius, Ptolemy's ''Canon''. [https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/ptolemys-canon/]</ref> or the [[Uruk King List]].<ref>Livius, Uruk King List.[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/uruk-king-list/]</ref> But neither of these feature [[Belshazzar]] who became effective king of Babylon after his father [[Nabonidas]] capture now confirmed to us by the Nabonidus Cylinder (from Ur).<ref>Livius, ''Nabonidus Cylinder from Ur''.[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/nabonidus-cylinder-from-ur/]</ref><ref>Livius, ''ABC 7 (Nabonidus Chronicle)'', Column iii.16.[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/]</ref> Similarly [[Ptolemy's Canon|Ptolemy]] does not list [[Nerglissar|Nerglissar's]] son [[Labasi-Marduk]] while the [[Uruk King List|Uruk]] does.
Clearly, legitimate debate over these sources does exist. Therefore in the following sections we shall examine these sources in more detail.
Clearly, legitimate debate over these sources does exist. Therefore in the following sections we shall examine these sources in more detail.
=== In the works of Xenophon ===
===In the Book of Daniel===
If one accepts that '''Cyaxares II'' and '''Darius the Mede''' are the same individual, then what is known in this [[cannonical book]] is that:
* as the kingdom of Babylon officially falls, ''Cyaxares II'' recevies the title of King of Babylon, after [[Cyrus II the Great]]'s conquest
* the angle "strengthened" ''Cyaxares II'' in that "first year" as king of [[Babylon]]
* the story of Daniel and the Lions Den has every indication of happening very soon after the conquest of Babylon.
* Darius is noted as being the ''son'' of "the great king" of the Medes (which can only refer to [[Astyages]] as there isn't another candidate)
* Darius was "made" king and "took" the kingdom of Babylon, not conquered it for himself.
Therefore we must note that all of these statements are in harmony with the statements of [[Xenophon]], [[Josephus]], [[Megasthenes]], the implications of the [[Behistun Inscription]] and the habit of [[Ptolemy's Canon]] to exclude kings who do not reign for less than one calander year.
===In the works of Xenophon===
According to [[Xenophon]], ''Cyaxares II'' ruled as king after the natural death of [[Astyages]] and sought to defended [[Medes|Media]] from Assyrian/[[Babylonia|Babylonian]] aggression, promoting his yet unascended nephew [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]] as General/leader of the allied forces. Furthermore, [[Xenophon]] in great detail records the history of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus']] pre-emptive strike and campaigns with ''Cyaxares II'', the first battle of which the king of Babylon (probably [[Neriglissar]]) was decisively defeated and slain. During the plunder of this battle [[Cyaxares II]] and [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] were separated and Cyrus continued to campaign alone with [[Cyaxares II]] eventually returning to [[Ecbatana]]. The volume records how Cyrus fused the alliance of nations under his banner until after several years Cyrus stands at the very gates of [[Babylon]] itself. [[Xenophon]] then very significantly records how after the conquest of [[Babylon]], [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to [[Ecbatana]] wherein he met [[Cyaxares II]], gifting him a palace in Babylon and accepted the hand of his daughter with the Kingdom of Media as her dowry. [[Xenophon]] then records how [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to Persia after the death of his father [[Cambyses I]] to receive his father's office.
According to [[Xenophon]], ''Cyaxares II'' ruled as king after the natural death of [[Astyages]] and sought to defended [[Medes|Media]] from Assyrian/[[Babylonia|Babylonian]] aggression, promoting his yet unascended nephew [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]] as General/leader of the allied forces. Furthermore, [[Xenophon]] in great detail records the history of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus']] pre-emptive strike and campaigns with ''Cyaxares II'', the first battle of which the king of Babylon (probably [[Neriglissar]]) was decisively defeated and slain. During the plunder of this battle [[Cyaxares II]] and [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] were separated and Cyrus continued to campaign alone with [[Cyaxares II]] eventually returning to [[Ecbatana]]. The volume records how Cyrus fused the alliance of nations under his banner until after several years Cyrus stands at the very gates of [[Babylon]] itself. [[Xenophon]] then very significantly records how after the conquest of [[Babylon]], [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to [[Ecbatana]] wherein he met [[Cyaxares II]], gifting him a palace in Babylon and accepted the hand of his daughter with the Kingdom of Media as her dowry. [[Xenophon]] then records how [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to Persia after the death of his father [[Cambyses I]] to receive his father's office.