Croesus

Last king of Lydia (in western Asia Minor) 560–547 BC. Famed for his wealth, he expanded Lydian power to its greatest extent, conquering all Anatolia west of the river Halys and entering alliances with Media, Egypt, and Sparta. He invaded Persia but was defeated by Cyrus (II) the Great. Lydia was subsequently absorbed into the Persian Empire.

When contemplating war with Persia, Croesus consulted the Delphic Oracle and received the famous response that he would ‘destroy a great empire’. He invaded but was beaten at Pteria. Retreating to Lydia, he dismissed many troops as he expected hostilities to pause for the winter, but Cyrus pursued immediately, won another battle outside the Lydian capital Sardis, and besieged it. When the city fell Croesus immolated himself on a funeral pyre.