Cambyses conquers Egypt, Farvardin 1. In the 35th year of the Shahanshahi calendar, Cambyses II, the Achaemenid king and son of Cyrus the Great, succeeded in annexing Egypt to the Achaemenid Empire. This event stands as one of the most significant conquests of antiquity and marked a turning point in the expansion of Iran’s borders during the Achaemenid era. After the death of Cyrus, Cambyses organized a military campaign and mobilized his forces to invade Egypt. Historical accounts estimate that the Achaemenid army numbered in the tens of thousands and crossed the Sinai Desert. Following the Battle of Pelusium, known as one of the bloodiest battles of that period, the Egyptian army was defeated and the city of Memphis fell to the Persians. It is estimated that thousands were killed or captured during this conflict. This victory led to Egypt becoming a satrapy within the Achaemenid Empire, resulting in changes to its administrative and governmental structures. After the conquest, Cambyses adopted the title of Pharaoh and sought to consolidate his rule by respecting local traditions. The event had lasting political and cultural effects on both Iranian and Egyptian history, shaping relations between the two lands for years to come. This observance was designated in the Shahanshahi calendar to commemorate the historical importance of Cambyses’ conquest of Egypt.
