Book I

Xenophon establishes that Darius had two sons: Artaxerxes (elder) and Cyrus (younger). When Darius died, Artaxerxes took the throne, and Cyrus held a provincial position.

Tissaphernes brings accusations against Cyrus to the king, leading Artaxerxes to attempt Cyrus's execution, though the latter is saved by their mother Parysatis's intercession.

After narrowly escaping death, Cyrus resolves to either avoid his brother's power permanently or become king himself, enlisting his mother's support and favor.

Cyrus strategically builds loyalty by treating visiting courtiers well, training barbarian soldiers, and secretly recruiting Greek mercenaries under the guise of local conflicts.

Cyrus secretly recruits troops by claiming cities are threatened by Tissaphernes and organizing a siege of Miletus, gaining military forces under false pretenses.

Cyrus gives ten thousand gold coins to the exiled Spartan Clearchus, who uses them to raise an army in the Chersonese, secretly maintaining a fourth armed force.

Cyrus funds Aristippus to raise four thousand mercenaries under the pretext of domestic Thessalian politics, securing a fourth military force in secret.

Cyrus orders Proxenus, Sophaenetus, and Socrates to gather forces using pretexts of campaigns against Pisidians and Tissaphernes.

When ready to march, Cyrus summons all commanders and their troops to Sardis, gathering approximately thirteen thousand Greek hoplites and peltasts plus barbarian forces.

Tissaphernes recognizes the scale of Cyrus's armament exceeds what would be needed against Pisidia and races to inform the king, prompting counter-preparations.

Cyrus leads his army through Lydia and Phrygia, crossing the Maeander and reaching Celaenae where he pauses thirty days, during which Clearchus and other commanders arrive with additional troops.

The army continues marching through Peltae and Ceramon-agora to Caystru-pedion, where soldiers demand overdue pay and the Cilician queen arrives with money, allowing Cyrus to distribute four months' wages.

At the Cilician queen's request, Cyrus holds a military review where Greek hoplites advance in formation with war cries, terrifying barbarian onlookers and demonstrating their superiority.

Cyrus marches through Iconium and hostile Lycaonia (given over to pillaging) to Dana, where he executes Persian official Megaphernes on conspiracy charges.

Cyrus passes through the narrow, fortified Cilician gates despite initial fears, as Syennesis has abandoned his defensive position after learning of reinforcements and potential encirclement.

Cyrus occupies the abandoned city of Tarsus and negotiates with Syennesis, who eventually accepts pledges of good faith and provides money in exchange for royal gifts and exemption from further pillage.

At Tarsus, the Greek soldiers mutiny, refusing to advance because they now suspect the expedition targets the Persian king, not just Pisidia or Tissaphernes.

Clearchus addresses his mutinous troops emotionally, recounting Cyrus's generosity, his own gratitude, and his commitment to share their fate rather than betray them to a barbarian.

After hearing Clearchus's speech rejecting the idea of attacking the king, over two thousand soldiers abandon Xenias and Pasion to follow Clearchus, validating his rhetorical stance.

Though refusing to meet Cyrus directly (from shame and fear), Clearchus sends a private message assuring him the situation will resolve favorably.

Clearchus gathers soldiers and frames their dilemma: they are no longer Cyrus's soldiers since they've stopped following him, and they must decide whether to stay safely or retreat safely.

Various speakers debate pragmatic approaches: one proposes asking Cyrus for ships or guides; another warns this is naive, proposing instead to ask Cyrus's true intentions directly.

The soldiers send a formal deputation asking Cyrus to clarify his intentions; he claims to target Abrocomas on the Euphrates, leaving the real target (the king) ambiguous.

Though suspicious, soldiers agree to continue if given a pay raise; Cyrus offers one and a half darics monthly instead of one, and they accept, though the king remains their unstated target.

Cyrus marches to Issi on the coast where he is joined by a substantial fleet from the Peloponnese and Egypt, including additional hoplites, suggesting imminent major confrontation.

The passage between Cilicia and Syria is blocked by two fortresses with a narrow gap; Cyrus had brought the fleet to support passage, but Abrocomas has fled instead of defending.

At the commercial port of Myriandus, the generals Xenias and Pasion board a merchant vessel and flee home, likely fearing confirmation they are marching against the king.

Rather than punishing Xenias and Pasion, Cyrus publicly announces he will let them go unharmed and even return their families, impressing the soldiers with his nobility.

Cyrus marches through Syria, burning the palace of Belesys, and reaches Thapsacus on the Euphrates, where he finally reveals to generals that the target is Babylon and the king.

At the Euphrates, Cyrus discloses to the generals that the army will march on Babylon against the king, demanding increased payment; the soldiers reluctantly agree after Cyrus offers bonus and guaranteed return.

Menon convinces his troops to cross the Euphrates before others decide, positioning them as most loyal and hoping to gain special favor from Cyrus.

The entire army fords the Euphrates waist-deep, a feat described as miraculous since Abrocomas had burned the boats; soldiers interpret it as a sign of divine favor for Cyrus.

Cyrus leads the army through a barren, level Arabian desert plain full of absinth and wild animals, maintaining supply difficulties and covering extensive distances.

The army finds and halts at the deserted city of Corsote, provisioning themselves before continuing through further barren stages toward the Gates.

Through thirteen desert stages with no vegetation, the army exhausts its grain supplies and subsists on meat alone; Cyrus maintains discipline through rapid marching to find water and fodder.

When wagons become mired in clay, Cyrus orders noble Persians to assist; they immediately remove their fine garments and work alongside commoners, exemplifying command discipline.

Xenophon interprets Cyrus's forced marches as strategic wisdom: rapid advance minimizes time for the king to assemble forces, exploiting the empire's inherent weakness from vast territory.

Soldiers construct makeshift rafts from tent skins filled with grass to cross the Euphrates and purchase provisions including wine and grain from Charmande.

Clearchus flogs one of Menon's soldiers for an infraction; enraged, Menon's troops attempt to stone Clearchus as he passes through their camp, nearly killing him.

Cyrus rides between the rival Greek forces and warns them that internal conflict will result in mutual destruction from the barbarian forces surrounding them; order is restored.

The Persian nobleman Orontas, claiming to ambush the king's advance cavalry, secretly requests horsemen while planning to defect; his treacherous letter is intercepted.

Cyrus conducts a formal trial in which Orontas admits to previous revolts and a new treasonous plot; Cyrus solicits advice from seven Persians and Greek generals, and all vote for execution.

Following his execution order, Orontas is taken to Artapates's tent and never seen alive or dead again; his fate and burial remain unknown.

Near Babylon, Cyrus assembles Greek and barbarian forces at midnight in expectation of immediate king's attack; he arranges generals and encourages troops with speech on Greek superiority.

Cyrus rewards the soothsayer Silanus for correctly predicting the king would not fight within ten days, validating divine favor for the expedition.

The king fails to defend the deep trench he had constructed; Cyrus interprets this as the king abandoning hopes of battle and relaxes his military vigilance.

At midday with the army in marching order, the messenger Pategyas arrives on a sweating horse shouting that the king approaches with a large battle-ready army.

Cyrus dons armor and orders troops to form ranks; Clearchus anchors the right wing on the Euphrates, Menon commands the left, with Cyrus personally commanding the center with six hundred cavalry.

The Persian army approaches in overwhelming numbers with scythe-chariots, appearing as dust clouds and revealing itself as a densely-packed force of cavalry, archers, and heavy infantry.

Though Cyrus orders Clearchus to attack the king's center position, Clearchus refuses to abandon his river-anchored position for fear of being flanked.

Xenophon meets Cyrus and relays the watchword 'Zeus our Saviour and Victory,' which Cyrus formally accepts as a positive omen for the coming battle.

The Greeks chant the paean and advance; as they quicken their pace with shields forward, they emit the war cry eleleu, causing barbarians to flee without serious engagement.

The Greeks chase the routing barbarian army; riderless scythed chariots sweep through the field, but the Greeks open gaps to let them pass safely.

Though pleased by the Greek victory, Cyrus keeps his six hundred cavalry in disciplined formation to observe and respond to the king's movements rather than joining the pursuit.

Cyrus perceives the king wheeling to encircle the Greek left wing and charges with his cavalry, breaking the royal cavalry line and scattering six thousand men.

In the chaos, Cyrus spots the king and wounds him through his corselet; a javelin-thrower then strikes Cyrus under the eye as he fights the royal guard.

Cyrus is killed in the struggle; eight of his loyal companions fall alongside him, and Artapates either kills himself or is ordered slain by the king.

Xenophon begins an extended character portrait, declaring Cyrus the worthiest and most kingly Persian since Cyrus the Elder, known to all who knew him.

At the royal court where Persian nobles' sons are trained in obedience and discernment of honor and dishonor, Cyrus excelled in modesty and horsemanship above his peers.

Cyrus distinguished himself in archery, javelin, and hunting; he fearlessly wrestled a bear, was wounded, but killed the beast and honored his rescuer.

As satrap, Cyrus never lied and scrupulously honored all treaties, winning the confidence of individuals and communities; even hostile parties trusted his word.

Cyrus strives to outdo both friends and enemies in reciprocal conduct; he attracts devoted followers willing to sacrifice everything, yet he unflinchingly punishes wrongdoers.

Cyrus specially honors the brave in war, making courageous soldiers rulers of conquered territories; conversely, cowards are treated as natural slaves, ensuring willing volunteers.

Cyrus delights in rewarding those who distinguish themselves through uprightness, making them wealthier than those who seek gain through unfair means.

Rather than robbing successful stewards, Cyrus gives them additional wealth, encouraging toil and confidence; men openly declare their possessions rather than hiding them from him.

Cyrus carefully studies the needs of each friend and reciprocates assistance proportional to his need for them, displaying courtesy and careful attention.

Cyrus received more gifts than anyone, yet was most generous in distributing them; he customized gifts to individual tastes, viewing true ornament as having well-adorned friends.

Xenophon finds more admirable Cyrus's minute attentions than his grand gestures: he shares favorite wines, dishes, and hay for friends' horses, treating each person as worthy of honor.

No Greek or barbarian was ever so beloved as Cyrus; while serving the king, no one deserted him for the king except the failed Orontas, whereas many deserted the king for Cyrus.

In his final moment, Cyrus's entire loyal bodyguard and table-companions die with him, except Ariaeus, whose flight with cavalry contrasts starkly with their devotion.

After Cyrus's death, the king's forces mutilate his body and raid the camp, capturing the Phocaean concubine; the Greeks defend their camp followers and save them.

The Greeks, unaware of Cyrus's fall, learn of it when the king reforms his troops in the baggage camp; separated by three miles, both sides are pursuing opposing targets.

The king reforms his army and advances a second time against the Greeks from the rear, but the Greeks wheel about and prepare to receive him in defensive formation.

Tissaphernes charges the Greek light infantry parallel to the Euphrates, but kills no Greeks; the peltasts open ranks and hack at his troops as they pass.

When the king reforms troops in line a second time, the Greeks again raise the paean and charge with greater enthusiasm than before; the barbarians flee at even greater distance.

The Greeks pursue to a village; the king rallies cavalry on a mound beyond, but as Greeks advance, the cavalry breaks apart and disperses in fragments.

Rather than assault the mound, Clearchus posts his army below and sends scouts to the summit; they return with news that the king is in full retreat.

After sunset, the Greeks halt and rest, marveling that Cyrus is nowhere to be seen and no messenger from him has arrived; they return to camp in ignorance.

Upon returning to camp, the Greeks discover the king's forces have ransacked supplies, eating food and burning the reserve wagons Cyrus had prepared; soldiers go supperless after a day of fasting.