When Gyges became king of Lydia, he acted quickly to show his power. Soon after taking the throne, he attacked the important Greek cities of Miletus and Smyrna. During these early campaigns, he also managed to capture the city of Colophon. These actions showed that he wanted to expand his influence along the western coast of Asia Minor.
However, despite these early attacks, Gyges did not achieve much afterward. He ruled for thirty-eight years, but during this long period, he did not carry out any great or noble deeds that historians considered important. Because of this lack of major achievements, his reign is often described as quiet and unremarkable. For this reason, historians usually move quickly past his rule and focus more on the kings who followed him The Oracle’s Message Changes the Course of War.
Ardys and the Cimmerian Invasion
After Gyges died, his son Ardys became king. Ardys proved to be more active in warfare. He captured the city of Priene and continued the struggle against Miletus, which had long been a powerful rival.
During Ardys’s reign, a major threat arrived from the north. The Cimmerians, a nomadic people, were forced out of their homeland by the Scythians. As they moved south, they entered Asia Minor and caused widespread destruction. The Cimmerians even managed to capture Sardis, the capital of Lydia. Only the strong citadel remained unconquered.
This event was a serious shock to the Lydian kingdom. Ardys ruled for forty-nine years, facing both internal and external challenges. After his long reign, his son Sadyattes took the throne.
The Short Reign of Sadyattes
Sadyattes ruled Lydia for twelve years. Although his reign was short, it was not peaceful. He continued the war against Miletus, following the path set by his father. However, he did not live long enough to bring this conflict to an end. After his death, the throne passed to his son Alyattes, one of the most powerful Lydian kings City Tour Sofia.
Alyattes and His Major Campaigns
King Alyattes proved to be a strong and determined ruler. He fought a long war against the Medes, who were led by Cyaxares, the grandson of Deioces. During his reign, Alyattes succeeded in driving the Cimmerians out of Asia, finally removing a major threat to the region.
He also conquered Smyrna, which had been a colony founded by the people of Colophon. Later, he attacked Clazomenae, but this campaign did not end as he hoped. Alyattes suffered a serious defeat there. Even so, his reign included many important actions that strengthened Lydia’s power.
Alyattes and the War Against Miletus
Alyattes inherited an ongoing war with the Milesians, and he chose a very unusual strategy. Instead of attacking the city directly, he focused on destroying the countryside. Each year, when the crops were ready for harvest, he marched his army into Milesian land.
The soldiers advanced to the sound of pipes, harps, and flutes, creating a strange mix of music and warfare. Alyattes ordered his army not to burn houses or destroy buildings. He did not even remove doors from the homes. However, he completely destroyed all crops and fruit trees, leaving the land unable to support its people.
This method had a clear purpose. Since the Milesians controlled the sea, a direct siege was useless. By leaving the buildings standing, Alyattes encouraged the people to return and farm the land again. This ensured that when he invaded the next year, there would be crops to destroy once more. Through this careful and repeated strategy, Alyattes slowly weakened Miletus without risking his army.
