Persian conquest by Cambyses II; Egypt becomes a province of the Achaemenid Empire.

The Persian conquest of Egypt by Cambyses II in 525 BCE marked the end of the 26th Dynasty and the beginning of Egypt’s integration into the vast Achaemenid Empire. Cambyses II, son of Cyrus the Great, led a successful military campaign against the Egyptian pharaoh Psamtik III, ultimately defeating him at the Battle of Pelusium. Following his victory, Cambyses marched into Memphis, the Egyptian capital, and firmly established Persian control. This conquest was significant as it ended centuries of native Egyptian rule and marked the beginning of Egypt’s first period under foreign domination. Under Achaemenid rule, Egypt was transformed into a satrapy, or province, within the Persian Empire. Cambyses adopted the title of Pharaoh and attempted to legitimize his rule by respecting many local customs and religious practices, although historical sources—especially Greek accounts—portray his reign as harsh and disrespectful toward Egyptian traditions. Despite these conflicting narratives, Persian administration introduced new systems of governance and taxation while maintaining much of the local bureaucracy. This period of foreign rule would influence Egypt’s political and cultural landscape for years to come, marking a turning point in its ancient legacy. \#CambysesII #PersianConquest #AncientEgypt #AchaemenidEmpire #PharaohCambyses #EgyptianSatrapy #EndOfDynasty #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife\_Moment #MoofLife