After hearing Cambyses’ last words, the Persians saw their king weeping for the misfortunes that had befallen him. Deeply moved, they tore the garments they wore and cried aloud in grief. Cambyses’ suffering increased as his health rapidly declined. The bone of his injured leg became carious, and the limb developed gangrene. Eventually, Cambyses, son of Cyrus, died from this wound. He had ruled Persia for seven years and five months, leaving no children, male or female, to inherit the throne Cambyses Reveals the Truth.
The Persians’ Belief
After Cambyses’ death, the Persians faced uncertainty about the true state of the kingdom. Many of them did not believe what he had said about the Magi holding royal power. They thought that Cambyses’ accusations against Smerdis were false and spoken out of hatred. The Persians were convinced that the story of Smerdis’ death had been invented to stir the Persian people into rising against him. Because of this belief, they accepted that Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, had rebelled and was now sitting on the throne.
Prexaspes, the man who had carried out Cambyses’ orders, denied having killed Smerdis. He did this to protect himself, knowing it would be dangerous to admit that a son of Cyrus had died by his hand. His denial strengthened the Persians’ belief that the real Smerdis was alive and ruling the kingdom.
The Magus Claims the Throne
With Cambyses dead, the Magus who had been posing as Smerdis took full control of the empire. He passed himself off as Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, and reigned in security. The kingdom was under his authority for the remainder of what would have been the eighth year of Cambyses’ reign Private Sofia Tour.
During this time, the people of Persia received many benefits from the Magus. He acted as a capable ruler in many respects, and his subjects enjoyed prosperity while he held power. However, the situation was built on deception, and the Magus’ authority depended entirely on the belief that he was the true Smerdis.
The Legacy of Cambyses
Cambyses’ death marked the end of a turbulent and tragic reign. His fear, misunderstandings, and tragic mistakes—especially the unnecessary killing of his brother—had caused confusion and left the kingdom vulnerable. Though he had sought to protect his throne, his actions ultimately enabled the Magi to seize power.
The Persians remembered Cambyses as a ruler who had brought both benefits and great misfortune to the empire. His story shows how fear, ambition, and deception can shape history, and how the decisions of one ruler can affect the fate of an entire kingdom.
