Editing Gyges of Lydia (section)

===Wars against the Ionians===
Gyges took advantage of the power vacuum created by the Cimmerian invasions to consolidate his kingdom and make it a military power, and, to this end, immediately after coming to power he attacked the [[Ionians|Ionian]] Greek cities of [[Miletus]], [[Smyrna]], and [[Colophon (city)|Colophon]].{{sfn|Cook|1988|p=196-197}} Gyges was, however, unable to conquer Miletus, and he made peace with the city,<ref name="Livius"/> following which Gyges accorded to the Milesians the privilege of colonising the coastal areas of Asia Minor under Lydian control.{{sfn|Graham|1988|p=121}} Gyges's attempt to capture Smyrna likewise failed; the inhabitants of the city were able to repel his attacks. After this, peaceful and friendly relations were established between them. Thereafter, the Lydians used the port of Smyrna to export their products and import grain, and Lydian craftsmen worked in Smyrnian workshops. These close ties ended when Gyges's great-grandson Alyattes conquered Smyrna around 600 BC. Gyges's attack on Colophon enabled him to seize control of its lower city only, and Colophon soon regained its independence and would not be subject to Lydian rule again until Alyattes conquered it.<ref name="Leloux-1"/>