Conflict has always been part and parcel of human life. While many battles were fought in the past, none left a story more compelling than the one about the battle of Marathon. Fought in 490 BC, the conflict served as a benchmark for all other wars in Greece and beyond.
The conflict started off as a result of the actions of King Darius I of Persia. Being the ruler, his plan was to capture Greece and impose his control on its people. However, he underestimated the power of the Greek army, renowned at the time for its discipline and unbreakable war formation. The battle was waged against Athenians and other states allied to them, with the Persian foot soldiers commanded by Datis and Artaphernes.
The decision to invade Greece was made by King Darius I in response to the Ionians for their revolt against his reign. Prior to this, Athens and Eretria had joined the revolt in support of their fellow Greeks. The initial capture of Sardis by the allies resulted in a temporary Pyrrhic victory as a result of the heavy casualty numbers they sustained. Ultimately, the Persians crushed the revolt and retook Ionia. Fuming at the brazen attempt by the allies, King Darius I swore to seek vengeance against Eretria and Athens by completely obliterating the two cities.
In the course of the Marathon battle, Athens and Sparta were famous for being the two biggest Greek cities. In 490 BC, two Persian naval commanders known as Artaphernes and Datis were ordered by King Darius I to set sail for Greece through the Aegean Sea. Their first objective once they landed was to besiege Cyclades.
The force would then use the area as a forward operating base to launch attacks against Athens and Eretria. After reaching Euboea during the summer, the force proceeded to besiege Eretria and was successful in capturing it. Thereafter, the army set sail for Attica, where they landed on the bay just close to Marathon.
With the Persians drawing closer, the Athenians prevailed upon Plataea to provide reinforcement. With this combined force, they set out for Marathon. Once in the city, they formed blockades on the two exits surrounding it.
Prior to this, they had sent a messenger to ask for reinforcements from the Spartans. However, the Spartans could not reciprocate as requested due to an ongoing religious festival. According to the historian Herodotus, the messenger ran a distance of over 140 miles from Athens to Sparta, taking only a day to do so. This story spurned on to legendary status, resulting in the modern day racing event.
As customary practice during war, the Athenian commanders selected a mountainous and perilously marshy region to act as the battlefield. This decision forced the invading Persian army to break its ranks. It was then attacked from the flanks, with majority of the Persians in the middle of the Athenians.
The surrounding force eventually crushed the enemy in no time. Surviving factions then took off to their ships. One notable observation is that the Greeks got their victory without Spartan assistance, albeit using tactful thinking.
The conflict started off as a result of the actions of King Darius I of Persia. Being the ruler, his plan was to capture Greece and impose his control on its people. However, he underestimated the power of the Greek army, renowned at the time for its discipline and unbreakable war formation. The battle was waged against Athenians and other states allied to them, with the Persian foot soldiers commanded by Datis and Artaphernes.
The decision to invade Greece was made by King Darius I in response to the Ionians for their revolt against his reign. Prior to this, Athens and Eretria had joined the revolt in support of their fellow Greeks. The initial capture of Sardis by the allies resulted in a temporary Pyrrhic victory as a result of the heavy casualty numbers they sustained. Ultimately, the Persians crushed the revolt and retook Ionia. Fuming at the brazen attempt by the allies, King Darius I swore to seek vengeance against Eretria and Athens by completely obliterating the two cities.
In the course of the Marathon battle, Athens and Sparta were famous for being the two biggest Greek cities. In 490 BC, two Persian naval commanders known as Artaphernes and Datis were ordered by King Darius I to set sail for Greece through the Aegean Sea. Their first objective once they landed was to besiege Cyclades.
The force would then use the area as a forward operating base to launch attacks against Athens and Eretria. After reaching Euboea during the summer, the force proceeded to besiege Eretria and was successful in capturing it. Thereafter, the army set sail for Attica, where they landed on the bay just close to Marathon.
With the Persians drawing closer, the Athenians prevailed upon Plataea to provide reinforcement. With this combined force, they set out for Marathon. Once in the city, they formed blockades on the two exits surrounding it.
Prior to this, they had sent a messenger to ask for reinforcements from the Spartans. However, the Spartans could not reciprocate as requested due to an ongoing religious festival. According to the historian Herodotus, the messenger ran a distance of over 140 miles from Athens to Sparta, taking only a day to do so. This story spurned on to legendary status, resulting in the modern day racing event.
As customary practice during war, the Athenian commanders selected a mountainous and perilously marshy region to act as the battlefield. This decision forced the invading Persian army to break its ranks. It was then attacked from the flanks, with majority of the Persians in the middle of the Athenians.
The surrounding force eventually crushed the enemy in no time. Surviving factions then took off to their ships. One notable observation is that the Greeks got their victory without Spartan assistance, albeit using tactful thinking.
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The Battle of Marathon was an epic war that took place in ancient Persia. To read more, visit this informative website at http://ancientgreecepersia.com/greek-persian-wars.html.
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