Battle of the Eclipse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of the Eclipse |
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| Part of the Median-Lydian war | |||||||
 Halys River in the border regions of the Lydian and Median kingdoms in the early 6th century BCE |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Lydia | Media | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alyattes | Cyaxares | ||||||
The Battle of the Eclipse was a famous battle. It happened a very long time ago, around 585 BCE. This battle was fought in a place called Anatolia, which is now Turkey. Two powerful ancient kingdoms, the Medes and the Lydians, were fighting.
This battle is special because it was supposedly stopped by a solar eclipse. Imagine the sun disappearing in the middle of the day! This amazing event led to the two sides making peace. It also ended a long war that had lasted for six years.
Contents
What Happened During the Battle?
The Battle of the Eclipse is also known as the Battle of Halys. It took place near the Halys River, which is now called the Kızılırmak River in Turkey. The Medes and the Lydians had been fighting for a long time. Neither side could win completely.
The Sudden Darkness
According to an ancient Greek historian named Herodotus, the battle was going on. Suddenly, the sky turned dark. It was like daytime had instantly become night. Both armies were very surprised by this event.
They stopped fighting right away. This unexpected darkness made them think about peace. It was a sign that maybe they should end the war.
A Prediction Comes True
Herodotus also wrote that this darkness was predicted. A wise man named Thales of Miletus had said it would happen. Thales was a very smart thinker from ancient Greece. He was known for his knowledge of the stars and the sky.
He had told people that a solar eclipse would happen. This made the event even more amazing for the soldiers. It seemed like a powerful sign from the heavens.
How the War Ended
Because of the eclipse, the Medes and Lydians decided to talk. They agreed to stop fighting. This led to a peace treaty between the two kingdoms.
A Royal Marriage
To make the peace strong, they decided on a special marriage. Alyattes, the king of Lydia, had a daughter named Aryenis. She was married to Astyages, the son of Cyaxares, the king of the Medes. Royal marriages were a common way to seal peace treaties in ancient times.
Setting the Border
As part of the peace deal, the Halys River became the official border. This river divided the lands of the Lydian kingdom and the Median kingdom. This helped prevent future fights over territory.
The Battle of the Eclipse is a fascinating story. It shows how a natural event could change history. It brought an end to a long and difficult war.
