DeiokesDeioces

The first king of the Medes; he ruled from 704-647 BCE.

After the Medes revolted from the rule of the Assyrian Empire in northern Asia Minor, the different tribes of Medes tried to escape the crippling bonds of lawlessness by appointing Deiokes to be their first king; Deiokes had earned the reputation of being a fair and honest judge in all types of civil and criminal disputes and eventually people from distant cities came to him for justice.

Deiokes finally announced that his personal affairs were suffering because of the amount of time he was required to spend on other peoples litigations; the various tribes of Medes held a conference and decided to ask Deiokes to be their king and assume the role of supreme judge of the land; Deiokes accepted the kingship on the condition that he be given a protected, seven-walled citadel and that he also be given special privileges; Deiokes assumed royal powers which included refusing to meet with anyone and that all business and judgments be conducted in writing.

Deiokes ruled for fifty-three years and was succeeded by his son Phraortes.

• Histories, book 1, chapters 96-102