Psamtik III (also spelled
Psammetichus or
Psammeticus) was the last
Pharaoh of the
Twenty-sixth Dynasty of
Egypt from 526 BC to 525 BC. Most of what is known about his reign and life was documented by the Greek historian
Herodotus in the 5th century BC. Herodotus states that Psamtik had ruled Egypt for only six months before he was confronted by a Persian invasion of his country led by King
Cambyses II of Persia. Psammetichus was subsequently defeated at the
Battle of Pelusium (525 BC), and fled to Memphis where he was captured. The deposed pharaoh was carried off to
Susa in chains, and later executed.