Croesus of Lydia was the richest king in the ancient world — his wealth legendary, his confidence unshakable. But when he sought advice from the Oracle of Delphi before going to war with Persia, a single prophecy changed everything.

In this Have To Know History Story Time episode, Jason Freewalt tells the dramatic rise and fall of Croesus — from golden palaces to fiery ruin:

• The incredible wealth of the Lydian Empire

• The fateful prophecy: “If you cross the river, a great empire will fall”

• How Croesus misread the oracle’s words and doomed his own kingdom

• The conquest of Lydia by Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.

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