• Xenophon's Cyropaedia gives a version of the origin of Cyrus the Great, that he gained the throne of the kingdom of Media peacefully as a nephew and son-in-law of Cyaxares II, rather than conquering it by force according to Herodotus. Xenophon was later than Herodotus; but he had insider connection to Cyrus the Younger as a mercenary fighting for him. Herododus was a traveler who heard from the streets of Persia the propaganda from Cyrus and Darius I. Therefore Cyropaedia is an extremely valuable source.