Media having thus realized the object of his ambition, died, after a reign of forty years, and was succeded by his son,-— ASTYAGES, whose first effort appears to have been directed toward effecting a more solid union with Persia, and to reconciling that numerous and powerful people to yield a willing obedience to his authority. They had suffered severely in the conquest of their country, and smarting under a deep sense of injury, were very unwilling subjects. To remove this feeling, Astyages is said to have given his daughter in marriage to Cambyses, a prince of the family of the Achæmenidæ, and of the royal tribe of Pasargada. Of the reign of this sovereign, although it extended over thirtyfive years, very few incidents have been recorded. He was brother of Nitocris, the celebrated queen of Nebuchadnezzar. In the early part of his reign, he had to subdue an insurrection which broke out in the province of Mazandran, bordering on the Caspian Sea. Having besieged the rebellious chief in his capital, he counterfeited a great want of provisions, and by his emissaries in the city purchased food of the keeper of the stores at an exorbitant price, until they were exhausted. He then summoned the citizens to surrender; which they were compelled to do by the discovery of this treachery. (Hales's Analysis of Ancient Chronology, vol. iv, p. 85.) Astyages is said to have prosecuted other wars, with various success, against Syria, Asia Minor, Egypt, and Arabia. While Cyrus was carrying on his Lydian war, the great nephew of Astyages, Belshazzar, King of Babylon, was slain by conspirators, who immediately proffered their submission to Astyages, as the nearest of kin to the royal house of Nebuchadnezzar, which had thus become extinct. Astyages accordingly assumed the sovereignty of this country, (see Appendix, note 39,) in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. He did not, however, on this account remove the seat of his government to Babylon; but, taking from thence Daniel the prophet, of whose fame he had heard, to be his prime minister, and such other persons as he required, he treated Babylon as a province of the great empire, the administration of which was carried on at Ecbatana, the Median capital; the local affairs of Babylon being placed under the direction of a viceroy, appointed for that purpose. (See Appendix, note 40.) Here, in the Median capital, it was that the conspiracy was formed against Daniel which proved his fidelity to God, and led to his being cast into the den of lions, from which he was miraculously delivered. Astyages in his old age, with a large unwieldy empire, was not equal to resist the rising genius of Cyrus of Persia. This prince, having subdued Lydia and other surrounding countries, turned his arms against the Median king. In this war, (as is more particularly detailed in the chapter on Persia,) Cyrus defeated and imprisoned Astyages, and established the Medo-Persian, or second great universal empire. After serving his Country in a judicial Capacity, and in other Ways, he is He subdues Persia, and other neighbouring Countries; and, having invaded 651 Babylon added to the Median Kingdom on the Death of Belshazzar....................... 553 Media invaded, conquered, and its King deposed by CYRUS, who reigned 22 Years......... 551 Medo-Persian Empire. CHAPTER VII. THE PERSIANS AND THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE. PERSIA a Province of the Assyrian Empire-Peculiar Interest attaching to this Part of Persian History-The Spirit and Prowess of the Blacksmith Kawah obtains the Independence of his Country-FERIDOON placed on the Throne-His long and just ReignHe divides his Kingdom between his Sons, SELM, TOOR, and ERIJ-Erij slain by his Brothers-The Assassins defeated and slain by MANUCHEHER, who reigns with great Celebrity-Sam, Prime Minister-Roostum, his Grandson, the great Persian Hero, born-NOUZER succeeds to the Throne-His cruel Reign-He is slain-Zoo expels the Enemy-His Son KERSHASP raised to the Throne, and afterward deposed-End of the Peshdadian Dynasty-The Kaianian Dynasty-The Median Ascendency concealed by imaginary Kings, KAI KOBAD representing Dejoces and Phraortes, and KAI Koos Cyaxares and Astyages-Reference to the Eclipse of Thales-KAI KHOSEU, or CYRUS, succeeds to the Throne-The Account of Ctesias respecting his Parentage-The proba ble Career of this Warrior, until he defeats and deposes Astyages-Cyrus marries the Daughter of Astyages-The Death of the deposed King-Cyrus conquers LydiaTakes Babylon, and establishes a universal Empire-His Conduct toward the Hebrews -The Restoration of Jerusalem begun-Extent of the Persian Empire-The Death of Cyrus-CAMBYSES-He prohibits the Progress of Building at Jerusalem-Invades and conquers Egypt-His impolitic Cruelty and Impiety-Usurpation of Smerdis the Magian-Death of Cambyses-Smerdis destroyed by a Conspiracy of Nobles-DARIUS raised to the Throne-His improved Mode of Government-The Case of Democedes, the Greek Physician-Makes an Edict in favour of the Hebrews-Reduces Samos-* Babylon rebels-The Self-sacrifice of Zopyrus-Babylon is taken-Conquests in the East-A Body of Greek Troops wage War in Asia Minor, and burn Sardis-Darius contemplates the Invasion of Greece-Failure of the first Expedition under Mardonius-Battle of Marathon, and Ruin of the second Persian Invasion-Death of Darius -Persepolis-Behistun Sculptures-XERXES-Subdues Egypt-Makes vast Preparations for the Invasion of Greece-Crosses the Hellespont-Battle at ThermopylaThe Persian Fleet defeated at Salamis, and their Army destroyed at Plataea-The Remnant of the Persian Fleet and Army destroyed at Mycale-Horrible Crime and Cruelty perpetrated in the royal Court-Xerxes assassinated-ARTAXERXES I. established on the Throne-Marries Esther-Ezra and Nehemiah sent to JudeaRevolt of Egypt-Peace with Athens-XERXES II.-SOGDIANUS-DARIUS NOTHUS subdues his Rivals--Demoralization of the Persian Court-ARTAXERXES II.-Revolt of Cyrus-He marches into the East-Is slain, and the Army dispersed, at Cunaxa-Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks-Continued Iniquity of the Court-Revolt and Death of the Heir apparent-ARTAXERXES III. murders the royal Family-Restores Persian Authority in Egypt, Phenicia, and Cyprus-DARIUS III. undertakes the GovernmentAlexander invades the Empire-Triumph of the Macedonian. ON resuming the history of Persia, we find it a province of the great Assyrian empire, having been subdued by Ninus or his immediate successor, and placed in entire subjection to the imperial government. (Patriarchal Age, pp. 453-455.) This period of subjection is shrouded from public view, and its disparaging influence on the national fame concealed, by the Persian historians describing it as the reign of a tyrant sovereign, Zohauk, who is fabled to have ruled for a thousand years. - The history of Persia, especially during the time which has now to pass under review, will always possess the deepest interest. This nation stood in intimate and peculiar relation to the elect people of Jehovah, in the most eventful period of their career,-placed in trembling jeopardy the fate of Greece, in the outset of her glorious course, and by its fall immortalized the greatest military genius the world ever produced. This portion of Persian history, therefore, cannot fail to excite deep and serious attention. A knowledge of the real facts of this period is, however, a very difficult acquirement. Sir William Jones calls the season of Assyrian domination over Persia the "dark and fabulous" age; and that which we have now to review he designates the "heroic and poetical" age. And this is its true character, since we have to collect our information from the conflicting statements of ill-informed Greeks on the one hand, and from native writers, who disfigured all their annals with fable and poetry, on the other. Amid this general darkness, however, we have clear and explicit information respecting the deliverance of Persia from her vassalage to Assyria, and her restoration to independence. As this foreign domination was described in the Persian annals as the tyranny of a monster king, named Zohauk, whose rapacity and cruelty were fast spoiling and depopulating the land; so the emancipation of Persia is spoken of as the defeat and death of this tyrant. This event was effected by the spirit and prowess of an humble blacksmith named Kawah. Zohauk having selected Kawah's two sons to be victims of his cruelty, Kawah rose in bold resistance. Having armed himself, and succeeded in rousing the spirit of his countrymen, he raised his blacksmith's apron on a pole as his banner; and, proceeding with the force thus collected, he defeated the royal troops. Kawah being afterward joined by great numbers of Persians, who now saw the dawn of hope for their country, the insurrection was continued, and extended, until Zohauk was defeated and slain, and Persia restored to liberty and independence. FERIDOON-a young prince descended from the ancient royal family of the kingdom, who had hitherto lived in seclusion-joined the victorious blacksmith, and was, on the termination of the war, raised to the throne. The first act of the new sovereign was to appoint the old apron of Kawah as the royal standard of Persia; and as such it continued to be recognised during all the fluctuations. of the national history, until the conquest of the kingdom by the Mohammedans, when it was taken, and studded with gems, with which it had been from time to time enriched. This prince is said to have ruled with great justice and modera tion. But, he having lived to a great age, his last days were imbittered by family feuds. When growing infirmities obliged him to relinquish the cares of royalty, he divided his dominions between his three sons, Selm, Toor, and Erij. But as the home-country of Persia was given to Erij the youngest son, the elder brothers demanded a new division, which the aged monarch refused; a course by which they were so greatly incensed, that they soon after put Erij to death and, not satisfied with this act of cruelty, they embalmed his head, and sent it to his father. The aged sovereign was seized with frantic grief for the loss of his favourite son, and implored heaven to spare his life until a descendant of Erij should avenge his death. His wish was granted. MANUCHEHER, the son of a daughter of Erij, became the hope of the aged king. When grown to manhood, he commenced a war with the murderers of his father, who were both slain by his hand, and their forces defeated. Soon after this, Feridoon died, having previously placed the crown on the head of Manucheher, who reigned with great celebrity. In compliance with the advice of Feridoon, he took for his prime minister Sam, a Persian nobleman of great talents and integrity. During this reign Roostum, the great martial hero of Persia, was born. He was the grandson of the prime minister Sam. Nothing can be more extravagant and romantic than the accounts given of the birth and prowess of this warrior by the poets of his country. After a lengthened period of rule, Manucheher died, leaving his son NOUZER to succeed him in the government; whom he charged, on his death-bed, to be guided in all his conduct by the wise advice of Sam and of his sons. The youthful sovereign neglected this counsel, and pursued a course equally impolitic and unjust. In consequence of his cruel and oppressive conduct, his subjects were driven to the verge of rebellion. While in this state, the kingdom was invaded by a neighbouring potentate, Pushung, King of Turan; and the results of this contest were unfavourable to Persia. In one single combat, Kobad, a son of the famous Kawah, was killed by his adversary; and in another Nouzer himself fell by the hand of Afrasiab, the son of Pushung, who commanded the invading army. Zal, a son of Sam, is said to have made a further effort to save his country from foreign rule. He raised a prince of the royal house, named Zoo, to the throne, who succeeded in expelling the enemy, and restoring the integrity of the kingdom. He was succeeded by his son KERSHASP, who was soon after set aside by Zal, as in |