This is the second in a 5-part weekly essay series – Veiled Valour: The Forgotten Women of Warfare. Queen Tomyris defied the notion that war and conquest were the domain of men. Her victory was not just a military triumph but a question to the gendered legacy of warfare, one that glorifies conquerors while overlooking the resilience of those who resist. Her forgotten legacy endures as a symbol of strength, strategy, and sovereignty.
War has always been a gendered act. Classical realists believe that war is ‘inevitable human nature’. This reeks of male privilege failing to see the diverse facets of society. History has taught us that shiny, grand empires were built on the bones of war by kings seeking purpose to fulfill their pride. Warriors or, simply put, warmongers are given a celebratory title after their name ‘The Great’. This article is about Queen Tomyris who posed a blockade against one such – Cyrus ‘The Great.’
The ruler of the Nomadic people of Massagetae, Queen Tomyris was propositioned by Persian king Cyrus to marry him. Being a strategist herself, Tomyris realised the wedding was a ploy of ‘The Great’ to gain trust and later kill her and ambush the people of Massagetae to expand the Persian empire eastward into Central Asia.
In the book written by Herodotus, Queen Tomyris is said to have married the king of Massagetae who she has had a son with. After the demise of the king, she ruled over the steppe nomadic people of Massagetae. Whilst the empire of Persia was built on wealth and grandeur, Queen Tomyris commanded people who built their society on instincts of survival. They valued freedom over everything else. Unlike the regular nomadic tribes, Massagetae had councils and deep-rooted traditions to govern over their kingdom. Massagetaens were also natural warriors, consisting of fierce cavalry and state-of-the-art skills in archery.
Cyrus initially approached Tomyris posing as a noble man proposing marriage as a form of alliance to expand his empire without bloodshed. Tomyris, known for her strength and wisdom, saw right through Cyrus’s true intentions. Enraged by the rejection from the Queen, Cyrus decided to invade her land.
The Persian Empire of the 6th century BCE during Cyrus’s rule were battle hardened and their military strength was unmatched. However, the ensuing course of action taken by Cyrus consisted of strategy and tactics that were outwitted by Tomyris.
Cyrus’s army, advancing toward the lands of the Massagetae, constructed a bridge across the Araxes River to cross into their territory. However, before the battle could commence, Queen Tomyris sent him a message reflecting her wisdom and defiance. “Be content with ruling your own kingdom,” she warned, “and allow me to rule mine. But if you insist on war, I swear by the Sun, the lord of the Massagetae, that you will have your fill of blood.[1]“
The first encounter between Cyrus’s forces and the Massagetae ended in disaster for the Persians. The fierce warriors of the Massagetae repelled the initial assault, overwhelming Cyrus’s troops and forcing him to retreat.
Victorius until then, a grave loss happened to Queen Tomyris. Her son Spargapises was captured in a surprise attack, killed himself realising he failed to protect his men.
With immeasurable sorrow of losing her son, she was furious wanting to avenge her son’s death. A battle was fought between Cyrus’s army and Massagetae forces – the great Persian army was defeated and Cyrus, the king himself was killed in the battle.
Queen Tomyris defied the notion that war and conquest were the domain of men. While kings like Cyrus sought glory through expansion, she fought not for power, but to protect her people’s freedom. Her victory was not just a military triumph but a question to the gendered legacy of warfare, one that glorifies conquerors while overlooking the resilience of those who resist. In a world where empires were built through bloodshed, Tomyris proved greatness lies not in conquest, but in the unyielding defence of one’s land and people. Her forgotten legacy endures as a symbol of strength, strategy, and sovereignty.
References:
- Time Traveller. (2024, December 2). “Tomyris: The fearless Queen who defied an empire” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjlzLwwPRCA. In reference with Herodotus’s “The Histories,” Queen Tomyris, the ruler of the Massagetae, in Book 1, Chapter 205
This is the second in a 5-part weekly essay series – Veiled Valour: The Forgotten Women of Warfare.
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