Leadership Traits of Cyrus the Great

Characteristics of Leading Applicable in a Post Modern Society

Aug 28, 2009

Cyrus II founded the Persian Empire through strong personal leadership that demonstrated boldness, innovation, toleration, efficient organization, and wisdom.

History frequently provides post-modern society with valuable lessons that are timeless and may be as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago. Identifying key leadership characteristics in the life of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire in the Ancient Near East, is one of many such examples. Cyrus demonstrated boldness, innovation, toleration, organization, and wisdom. These traits enabled him to create an efficient organization that would endure for several centuries.

Cyrus II Forges an Empire through Boldness and Innovation

As with many great leaders in history, Cyrus overcame significant obstacles as a child. According to the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus, his grandfather was warned in a dream that the boy would one day become king. His ordered his servant to take the boy outside of the city and kill him. The servant, however, could not kill the boy and left him with peasants. Herodotus claims that Cyrus was reared by a she-wolf (similar in nature to the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus).

As he grew older, Cyrus claimed his kingdom and united the Medes and the Persians. According to 4th Century historian Xenophon, he was without guile and possessed “physical beauty.” Similar observations were made of Alexander the Great. Effective leadership enabled Cyrus to join in the coalition that defeated the brutal and much feared Assyrians.

Cyrus as innovator is demonstrated in his war with the Lydian king Croesus. Croesus, an ambitious and greedy leader, attacked Cyrus after interpreting a message from the Oracle at Delphi in Greece. But his interpretation was wrong. An inconclusive battle near Susa caused Croesus to withdraw back to Sardis, intending to resume the campaign in the next year during less hostile weather.

Cyrus, however, followed him. Taken by complete surprise, Sardis fell and the Lydian kingdom was incorporated into the Persian Empire. Following this success, Cyrus turned his attention to Babylon. Although seemingly impregnable, Cyrus directed his men to redirect the Gyndes River, a tributary of the Tigris, depriving the city of water. Most significantly, as water levels fell in the canals feeding the city through entrances in the walls, Cyrus marched his troops through the dry canals into the city and Babylon was taken without bloodshed.

Cyrus Employs Wisdom and Toleration

Cyrus was welcomed into Babylon as a liberator by the inhabitants. It is important to note that his soldiers were given strict orders not to plunder or in any way harm the citizens. It is a testament to his leadership that these orders were fully obeyed. It is also a demonstration of the tight control he had over his army.

Cyrus allowed displaced hostage populations to return to their indigenous homes, including the Jews that had been part of the Old Testament “Babylonian Captivity.” They were instructed to rebuild their temple, destroyed almost seven decades ago by Nebuchandrezzer II. Cyrus exhorted them to pray to their god and offer sacrifices. Religious freedom and justice became a hallmark of the Persian Empire.

Cyrus organized the empire into provinces or satrapies. He reduced the 3-month time it took to get messages by horse from Susa to Sardis to less than 2-weeks with the construction of the Royal Road. Cyrus sent imperial agents into each province to observe conditions and report to him. Perhaps his greatest administrative innovation was the adoption of Aramaic as the official administrative language of the empire, given the diverse ethnic makeup of the provinces.

The leadership qualities of Cyrus resulted in an empire that endured for centuries, even after outside invasion. His methods would be copied by future rulers that read the accounts of his kingship recorded by ancient historians. Leadership in the post-modern world can look to the life of Cyrus and apply many of his principles to 21st-Century problems.

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