The biggest and smartest political strategy in history

In the 6th century BC, a battle unfolded between the Egyptian and Persian armies, and little did the Egyptians know that they would face one of the strangest and most effective tactics ever witnessed in warfare.

Imagine yourself as a courageous soldier in the Egyptian army, preparing for a fierce war against the Persian forces. Your burning desire is to decimate the enemy army, to eliminate two or three dozen enemy soldiers and emerge triumphant. The anticipation builds as dust swirls on the battlefield, signaling the impending clash. Soon, the enemy forces will come into view.

But wait! Instead of the anticipated enemy soldiers, what stands before you is an army of hundreds of cats. Astonishment takes hold as the Persian soldiers emerge behind these feline companions, their shields resembling cats as well. A religious crisis ensues as you realize the sanctity of cats in Egyptian culture.

Cats hold a special place in Egyptian society, revered as symbols of life and worshipped as deities. In fact, killing a cat is considered a grave offense punishable by death. Confusion sets in as you grapple with conflicting emotions—should you fight this army of adorable creatures or succumb to a sense of love and helplessness?

This peculiar scenario actually took place during the Pelusium War in 525 BC, between the Egyptian pharaoh Psamtik III and the Persian king Cambyses II. The war itself was sparked by an unusual incident. Cambyses had requested the hand of Psamtik's daughter in marriage, but the Egyptian pharaoh, fearing for his daughter's well-being, deceived the Persian emperor by sending a substitute bride instead. Discovering this treachery, Cambyses grew furious and launched an attack with the intention of destroying Egypt.

Recognizing the strategic importance of Pelusium, situated on the banks of the Nile, Cambyses decided to commence the war from there. He was a shrewd statesman, well aware of the profound significance cats held in Egyptian culture at the time. Cats were considered cherished members of families, and their loss was mourned with the symbolic removal of eyebrows. Even in the event of a house fire, cats were prioritized for rescue before humans. The killing of cats carried severe consequences, including the death penalty.

Exploiting this inherent weakness of the Egyptians, the Persian army devised a cunning plan. They formed an army of cats, with soldiers adorning shields painted in the likeness of these revered animals.

When the Egyptian army laid eyes upon the feline army on the battlefield, they were paralyzed by their religious convictions. They refused to attack the cats and fled the war in fear. The Persian army swiftly pursued and defeated the retreating Egyptians, capturing the Egyptian pharaoh in the process.

And thus, victory was achieved through a peculiar yet ingenious tactic—a cat army that exploited the deep-rooted cultural reverence for these creatures.

This historical event serves as a testament to the remarkable ways in which unconventional strategies can turn the tide of battle. The Persian king's utilization of the cat army may seem bizarre, but it stands as a shining example of the power of psychological warfare and exploiting the weaknesses of one's adversaries.