Editing Cambyses II (section)

== Early life ==
[[Image:Babylon city Iraq.jpg|270px|thumb|Overview of the ruins of [[Babylon]]]]
In April 538 BC, Cambyses was appointed by his father as the governor of the northern part of [[Babylonia]], including its city [[Babylon]], whilst the central and southern part continued to be directly supervised by Cyrus and his bureaucrats. Before his appointment, Cambyses had taken part in a ritual at the regular [[Nowruz|New Year festival]] on 27 March 538 BC, where he received the royal [[sceptre]] in [[Esagila]], a temple dedicated to the god [[Marduk]]. His governorship, however, lasted only nine months;  Cyrus dismissed him from the post in December 538 BC for unknown reasons. After his dismissal, Cambyses continued to mostly reside in the Babylonian cities of Babylon and [[Sippar]].{{sfn|Dandamayev|1990|pp=726–729}} 

According to Babylonian records, both Cambyses and Cyrus carried the title of "King of Babylon, King of the Lands" in 538/7 BC, which indicates that Cyrus had appointed him as co-ruler some years before his campaign against the [[Massagetae]].{{sfn|Dandamayev|1990|pp=726–729}}{{sfn|Briant|2002|p=519}} Cyrus' younger son, Bardiya, was given his own realm in Central Asia, which was exempted from paying tribute.{{sfn|Briant|2002|p=50}} Cambyses reportedly took part in the expedition against the Massagetae, but, due to his being the heir to the throne, he was sent back to Persia, before Cyrus fell to the Massagetae.{{sfn|Dandamayev|1990|pp=726–729}} Cambyses had his father's body carried to [[Pasargadae]] in Persis, where he was buried in a [[Tomb of Cyrus|tomb]] that had been prepared for him earlier.{{sfn|Briant|2002|p=50}}