Life front S.J. - C.
Oldest son of king Alyatte, he was last king de Lydie (561-547 av. J. - C.). He conquered a large number of Greek cities and reigned on the totality of Asia Mineure west of river Halys (today Kizil Irmak), except for Lycie. Made fabulously rich by the gold which it withdrew from gold bearing sands of the Gold mine, it was acquired near the Greeks a legendary fame by making - without any doubt by political skill - splendid offerings with their principal sanctuaries - Delphes, Didyme, and especially Ephèse, where it made rebuild the temple of Artémis (Artémision).
Its legendary happiness, in its court of Sardinians where it joined together philosophical and poets, was the subject of many anecdotes, reported by Hérodote. One of most famous milked with a visit of Solon (meets improbable since the voyage of Solon proceeded before the accession of Croesus to the throne); with the question of Croesus: “Amn't I happiest of the men? ”, the Athenian legislator would have answered: “Do not say a man that it is happy before it died.”
In fact, the legendary happiness of Croesus contrasted with misfortunes which overpowered the end of its life. His/her Atys son died in hunting. Itself, after having taken the initiative of a war against the growing power of Persia, invades Cappadoce but was defeated by Cyrus the Large one with the battle of Thymbrée (546 av. J. - C.), then besieged and made captive in Sardes (547 av. J. - C.). However, according to testimonies of the Greek poet Bacchylide and the historians Hérodote and Xénophon, Cyrus saved it, and kept it near him like advising. With Crésus the Lydian dynasty of Mermnades founded by Gygès towards 700 av. J. - C finished.