CRCE'SUS (Gk. Kroisos). A Lydian king of the line. The son of Alyattes, whom he succeeded. he flourished in the sixth century B.C. Ile came to the throne about the age of 35 (me. 50(1), and found the wrangling Dorians, and 'Ionians an easy prey, but he did not press his advantage as conqueror be yond the exaction of tribute. Save Lyvia and all Asia i\linor west of the Malys fell before hint. his ability in practical affairs soon made him the richest of and 'rich as Crowns' was a hyperbole formerly more apt than in our day of fabulous wealth. Ills capital, Sardis, became the brilliant centre of arts and letters, and Crowns was a munificent patron. The great-souled law-giver of the (]rocks was one of his visitors, Herodotus informs us, and when questioned by the King whether the possessor of so great riches might not be deemed the hap piest of men. Solon replied in a frank philosophy, the value of which could not then be appreciated. When the long peace of the kingdom was evi dently about to be disturbed by the encroaching Persians. Crwsns formed a league with the Laeedamonians. He sought to propitiate the gods by bestowing rich gifts upon Apollo's shrine. and, encouraged by the oracle's deliver ance that lie ''would destroy a great empire," lie determined to take the offensive. With his Lydian forces only, lie joined battle with the enemy. but achieved no advantage, a failure which lie attributed to the inadequate support of his mercenaries. Returning to Sardis, lie called
upon the Eambemonians for their promised and invited the assistance of the Egyptian King, •masis. meaning to renew the contest early in the next year. this Cyrus did not choose to wait, but decided upon immediate action. Cnesus, almost totally unprepared, met a certain defeat at Thymbra, and. after a short siege of Sardis, surrendered his capital. After a reign of teen years he gave up his crown to the Persian. The oracle spoke truth—he destroyed a great empire, but it was his own. Ilerochaus further relates that as the Lydian awaited the fire which. by command of Cyrus. was to consume bim, lie remembered his conversation with the Athenian philosopher. and called out "Solon, Solon, Solon!" Desiring to know the reason of the exclamation. Cyrus heard the story. and straightway commanded that the victim lie spared. But Apollo's intercession was required to save him from the flames now raging about him. A merciful rain tell, and Criesus, given a residence near Echatana, was taken into his conqueror's favor, and later into that of Cam byses. To both monarchs he is said to have rendered valuable service as a counselor, and both he survived. Just what his end was is not known.