# Cyrus — The Prince character guide

> Cyrus in The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Cyrus, Scipio Cyrus

**First appearance:** 0012-vi-concerning-new-principalities-which-are-acquired-by-one-s-own-arms-and-ability

## Who they are

Founder of the Persian Empire, model of virtuous princely conquest.

## Relationships

### [The Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/characters/the_prince)

_professional_

Cyrus the Great is presented as an ideal prince who combined military prowess with wise governance.

## In the story

### [VI: Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired by One’s Own Arms and Ability](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/vi-concerning-new-principalities-which-are-acquired-by-one-s-own-arms-and-ability)

Example of a prince who rose by ability, finding the Persians discontented and the Medes weak.

### [XIV: That Which Concerns a Prince on the Subject of the Art of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xiv-that-which-concerns-a-prince-on-the-subject-of-the-art-of-war)

Referenced as an exemplar imitated by Scipio, based on Xenophon's biography.

### [XVI: Concerning Liberality and Meanness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xvi-concerning-liberality-and-meanness)

Used as an example of a leader who could be liberal with others' property to gain followers.

### [XXVI: An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Barbarians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xxvi-an-exhortation-to-liberate-italy-from-the-barbarians)

Cited as an example of a leader who arose when the Persians were oppressed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/characters/cyrus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/characters