After the death of Deioces in 674 BCE, his son Phraortes took the reins of the fledgling Median kingdom and ruled over the land for 22 years. Phraortes, who in some sources was described as the ruler and judge of a city, became the head of the Median tribal confederation after his father. Unlike Deioces, who focused more on justice and internal consolidation, Phraortes sought to expand and solidify the power of the Medes against foreign enemies, especially Assyria. His main goal was to achieve complete liberation from the Assyrian yoke and to expand the Median territory westward.
Immediately after coming to power, Phraortes focused on military aspects and strengthening his forces. By uniting the scattered Median tribes and attracting other anti-Assyrian forces, including the Scythians and the Persians, he formed an organized and powerful army. These alliances not only demonstrated the growing influence of the Medes in the region but also allowed Phraortes, relying on his growing military strength, to more seriously confront the oppressive power of the Assyrians and to nurture the long-held Median dream of complete independence.
With increased military power and fueled by the motive of revenge against Assyria, Phraortes decided to attack the Assyrian territory. He sent his troops toward Nineveh, the mighty capital of Assyria. This campaign, despite its great courage and audacity, was not successful. Phraortes, due to his inexperience in major battles and internal disputes with his allies, especially the Scythians, could not resist the powerful and experienced Assyrian army.
In the midst of the battle, the Scythians, who were themselves a warrior and horse-riding people, either separated from Phraortes' army at critical moments and joined the Assyrians or, according to some accounts, attacked the Median territory, which caused weakness and disarray on the Median front. This act was the result of a lack of complete cohesion and deeper conflicts among Phraortes' allies, which the Median kingdom had not yet been able to fully overcome. Phraortes' army was crushed, and he was killed on the battlefield in 653 BCE.
This defeat and the death of Phraortes were very costly for the nascent Median kingdom and had devastating consequences. After this victory, the Scythians gained control over parts of Media and its surrounding areas, and this dominance lasted for about 28 years. This period, known as the "Scythian Domination," brought many challenges for the Medes; many areas under Median influence were plundered and pillaged, and the relative order and security established by Deioces fell into disarray and chaos.
After this difficult period, Khshathrita (known in ancient sources as "Cyaxares," and whom some historians consider to be Deioces II or the son of Phraortes) took leadership of the Medes. In 653 BCE, at the height of Scythian control over the region and in a situation where the Medes were weakened, he took charge. Khshathrita, with great wisdom and patience, began to rebuild the Median forces and reorganize the tribes, seeking an opportunity to free himself from Scythian rule and to take revenge on the Assyrians.
Khshathrita understood well that to confront two powerful enemies (the Scythians and Assyria), he had to proceed with caution and planning. He first focused on rebuilding the Median army and established it on a more solid foundation. Then, with his diplomatic skills, he succeeded in allying with the Mannaeans and the remnants of Scythian tribes who had a long-standing enmity with Assyria, to unite against the Assyrians. This new alliance indicated a shift in the balance of power in the region and gave the Medes a new opportunity to revive their power and influence.
Finally, Khshathrita passed away in 625 BCE, having laid the necessary foundations for the future greatness of the Median kingdom. He managed to rescue the Medes from a period of weakness and Scythian domination and guide them toward a new era of power and influence. His legacy was a rebuilt army and a network of alliances that his son, Cyaxares, would use to bring Media to the peak of its historical power.