He can scarcely have been much less than seventy years old at this time; and his life was prolonged at the utmost three years longer.

According to Herodotus, he died B.C.593, after a reign of exactly forty years, leaving his crown to his son Astyages, whose marriage with a Lydian princess was above related.
We have no sufficient materials from which to draw out a complete character of Cyaxares.

He appears to have possessed great ambition, considerable military ability, and a rare tenacity of purpose, which gained him his chief successes.

At the same time he was not wanting in good sense, and could bring himself to withdraw from an enterprise, when he had misjudged the fitting time for it, or greatly miscalculated its difficulties.

He was faithful to his friends, but thought treachery allowable towards his enemies.