Cyaxares (
Uvaxštra, ; r. 625–585 BC), the son of King
Phraortes, and according to
Herodotus was the third and most capable king of
Media. According to Herodotus, Cyaxares, grandson of
Deioces, had a far greater military reputation than his father or grandfather. He was the first to divide his troops into separate sections of spearmen, archers, and horsemen.