Editing Cyrus the Younger (section)

===Satrap of Asia Minor (408-401 BC) and support for Sparta===
[[File:Meeting between Cyrus the Younger and Lysander, by Francesco Antonio Grue (1618-1673), maiolica with a dusting technique, Castelli manufacture, Abruzzo. Italy, 17th century.jpg|thumb|left|Meeting between Cyrus the Younger and Spartan general [[Lysander]] in [[Sardis]]. The encounter was related by [[Xenophon]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rollin |first1=Charles |title=The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Grecians, and Macedonians |date=1851 |publisher=W. Tegg and Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/ancienthistorye03rollgoog/page/n123 110] |url=https://archive.org/details/ancienthistorye03rollgoog |language= en}}</ref> [[Maiolica]] decoration by [[Francesco Antonio Grue]] (1686–1746).]]

In 408 BC, after the victories of [[Alcibiades]] leading to an Athenian resurgence, Darius II decided to continue the war against [[Athens]] and give strong support to the [[Sparta]]ns. He sent Cyrus the Younger into [[Asia Minor]] as [[satrap]] of [[Lydia]] and [[Phrygia]] Major with [[Cappadocia]], and commander of the Persian troops, "which gather into the field of Castolos", i.e. of the army of the district of Asia Minor. There, Cyrus met the Spartan general [[Lysander]]. In him, Cyrus found a man who was willing to help him become king, just as Lysander himself hoped to become absolute ruler of Greece by the aid of the Persian prince. Thus, Cyrus put all his means at the disposal of Lysander in the [[Peloponnesian War]].{{sfn|Meyer|1911|p=708}} When Cyrus was recalled to [[Susa]] by his father [[Darius II|Darius]], he gave Lysander the revenues from all of his cities of Asia Minor.<ref>{{cite book| quote= He then assigned to Lysander all the tribute which came in from his cities and belonged to him personally, and gave him also the balance he had on hand; and, after reminding Lysander how good a friend he was both to the Lacedaemonian state and to him personally, he set out on the journey to his father.| author= Xenophon| title= Hellenica| chapter-url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0206%3Abook%3D2%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D14| chapter= 2.1.14| via= Perseus| access-date= }}</ref>

Around that time, Darius fell ill and called his son to his deathbed;<ref name= XenophonI-I>{{cite book| author= Xenophon| translator= H. G. Dakyns| title= Anabasis| chapter= I.I | chapter-url= http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1170/1170-h/1170-h.htm |via= Project Gutenberg| access-date= }}</ref> Cyrus handed money over to Lysander and went to [[Susa]].<ref>{{cite book| author= Plutarch| translator= A. H. Clough| title= Plutarch's Lives| edition= 1996| chapter= Lysander| chapter-url= http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/674/pg674.html |via= Project Gutenberg| access-date= }}</ref> Plutarch wrote that Cyrus's mother, Parysatis, favored him and wanted him on the throne, "And therefore, his father Darius now lying ill, he, being sent for from the sea to the court, set out thence with full hopes that by her means he was to be declared the successor to the kingdom. For Parysatis had the specious plea in his behalf, which Xerxes on the advice of Demaratus had of old made use of, that she had borne him Arsicas when he was a subject, but Cyrus when a king. Notwithstanding, she prevailed not with Darius, but the eldest son Arsicas was proclaimed king, his name being changed into Artaxerxes; and Cyrus remained satrap of Lydia, and commander in the maritime provinces."<ref name=Plutarch/>

Soon after Darius died, around the time of Artaxerxes II's accession in 404 BC,<ref>{{Cite book| url= https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/951955827|title=Revolt and Resistance in the Ancient Classical World and the Near East : In the Crucible of Empire |others=Collins, John J. (John Joseph), 1946-, Manning, Joseph Gilbert|year=2016|isbn=978-90-04-33017-7| location= Leiden |oclc= 951955827}}</ref> [[Tissaphernes]] (Ciθrafarna) denounced Cyrus' plan to assassinate his brother, and Cyrus was captured, but by the intercession of Parysatis, Cyrus was pardoned and sent back to his satrapy. According to Plutarch, "his resentment for [his arrest] made him more eagerly desirous of the kingdom than before."<ref name=Plutarch/>

In 405 BC, Lysander won the [[battle of Aegospotami]], and Sparta became more influential in the Greek world.{{sfn|Meyer|1911|p=708}}