Battle of Pelusium

BelligerentsAchaemenid Empire
Arabian and Greek mercenariesKingdom of Egypt
Karian and Ionian mercenariesCommanders and leadersCambyses IIPsamtik III(POW)Casualties and losses 7,000 (Ctesias) 50,000 (Ctesias)

The Battle of Pelusium was the first major battle between the Achaemenid Empire and Egypt. This decisive battle transferred the throne of the Pharaohs to Cambyses II of Persia, marking the beginning of the Achaemenid Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt. It was fought in 525 BC near Pelusium, an important city in the eastern extremes of Egypt's Nile Delta, 30 km to the south-east of the modern Port Said. The battle was preceded and followed by sieges at Gaza and Memphis.