Under the leadership of Cyrus II, the Persians revolted against Median rule and defeated the Median King Astages and gained their freedom. The victory was initiated by Harpagus (a Median general) who sought revenge for the death of his son by Astages. Harpagus persauded others in the Median nobility to overthrow the harsh rule of their king in favour of Cyrus.
The Median army was defeated after a short battle as many changed sides or fled, Astages was captured. The Medians gained their freedom from Astages but now became the subjects of Persia.

Pteria 547 B.C

The Median city of Pteria was contructed on the slopes of Mount Kerkenes (1,450m - 4,750ft) in Turkey's Anatolian plateau in approx 585 B.C. Built by the Median king Astyages around the eroded granite mountain, its walls measured 7 km in length and over 4m in wide.

Springs and streams on Mount Kerkenes as well as the Egriöz River provided the city with a good water system. The city lasted until being destroyed by the Lydian King Croesus in 547 B.C. Pteria was burned to the ground and its inhabitants were enslaved by the Lydians.

Kerkenes Dag is believed to be the site of this important sixth-century B.C. city mentioned by Herodotus. The city came to an end after only 40 years when Croesus renewed hositialities against the Medes.

Croesus had sort to take advanatage of the breakup of the Median empire. Consulting the oracle at Delphi which advised him that if he crossed the Halys River, a "Great Empire would be destroyed," he recruited a large army and marched east to take and sack Pteria.

In response to the attack on Pteria, Cyrus sent heralds to the Ionians to persuade them, (unsuccessfully), to desert Croesus while he organised and moved his combined Persian/Median army to meet the threat. This was to be Cyrus' first challenge as ruler of the newly formed Achaemenid Empire. Arriving too late to save the city, Cyrus' large force met the Lydians on the plain near Pteria.

The battle was indecisive, the Persians were unable to defeat the strong Lydian cavalry with their long lancers. The larger Persian army however held the field and Croesus returned to Sardis.

Considering Croesus had only broken the Lydian/ Median peace when he preceived an opportunity, it is unlikely he was considering any further action after his defeat. Not expecting Cyrus to follow up, Croesus disbanded his army for the winter.

Thymbra 546 B.C

Cyrus did not wait till the next spring to renew the attack as Croesus expected. He waited only long enough to give Croesus time to start disbanding his army, then advanced quickly on Sardis. Croesus hastily assembled an even larger army composed of Lydian hoplites, lance-armed cavalry and Egyptian heavy infantry, and met the Perisans on the Plain of Thymbra.

Cyrus deployed his troops with flanks refused in a great square formation. The flanks were covered by chariots, cavlary, and his best infantry and a newly organised camel corp. This improvised camel corp was formed by camels taken from the baggage train, its sole purpose was to disrupt the Lydian cavalry. As Cyrus expected, the wings of the Lydian army wheeled inward to envelop this novel formation. As the Lydian flanks swung in, gaps appeared at the hinges of the wheeling wings. Disorder was increased by effective overhead fire of the Persian achers and mobile towers, stationed within the square. Cyrus then gave the order to attack, his flank units smashing into Croesus' disorganised wings.
The camels frightened the Lydian horses which were not accustomed to their smell. The horses became uncontrollable and the riders dismounted in the vain attempt to hold their position.
The Egyptian heavy infantry stood firm in the centre, and although the Lydian cavalry were routed the army was able to retire to the safety of the walls of the city. Cyrus was impressed with the Egyptian's performance on the day and made separate terms of surrender with them.

The city of Sardis was taken after a short siege.

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