CAMBISES. Cambyses, son of Cyrus, was king of Persia and ruled 529-522 B.C. Herodotus says that Cambyses was a madman; his habitual anger was a symptom of his condition (Histories III.1-72). Seneca says that Cambyses furiosus ac feliciter usus habuit, "made successful use of his madness" (Epistle 86.1), and tells the story of how Cambyses slew his counselor's son in a fit of rage, De ira III.14.
Friar John illustrates his sermon of wrath with the story of how angry Cambyses slew his counselor's son, SumT 2043-2078. [Cirus: Senec]
Cambises, a spelling variant, occurs medially, SumT 2043.