Cyrus the Great was the famous king of Persia who expanded the empire to its greatest extent. He founded the Achaemenid Empire and is renowned for his achievements in establishing an administration that respected the customs and cultures of conquered peoples. His policies of tolerance and benevolence promoted unity and stability within the empire. Notably, Cyrus is credited with freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity, as documented in historical texts. His legacy influenced subsequent leaders and contributed to shaping the region's history, exemplifying enlightened governance and the importance of cultural pluralism in statecraft.