Cyrus the Great Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE, is renowned for uniting the Persian tribes and establishing one of the largest empires in history. Known for his progressive leadership, he allowed religious and cultural freedom, earning respect from conquered peoples. His conquest of Babylon in 539 BCE and the issuance of the Cyrus Cylinder marked key moments in history, with Cyrus hailed as a champion of human rights and a visionary ruler. #CyrusTheGreat