
The battle of Marathon is one of history's most famous
military engagements. It is also one of the earliest
recorded battles. Their victory over the Persian
invaders gave the fledgling Greek city states
confidence in their ability to defend themselves and
belief in their continued existence. The battle is
therefore considered a defining moment in the
development of European culture.

The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the
first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the
citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force
commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the
culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King
Darius I, to subjugate Greece.

The first Persian invasion was a response to Greek
involvement in the Ionian Revolt, when Athens and Eretria
had sent a force to support the cities of Ionia in their attempt
to overthrow Persian rule. The Athenians and Eretrians had
succeeded in capturing and burning Sardis, but were then
forced to retreat with heavy losses.


The date of the Battle of Thermopylae is in debate with two
dates under contention. The dates in question are either
August 7th or September 8th to the 10th of the year 480 BC.
The battle was between the defending Greek city-states led
by Athenian General Themistocles, King Leonidas I of
Sparta and Demophilus of Thespiae and the attacking
Persian army of Xerxes I of Persia. The total number of
forces on both sides are still debated but the Greek
numbered between 5,200 to 11,200 and the Persian between
70,000 and 300,000 (historical numbers put the Persian army
at around 2,000,000 men).


The position of the Greek army at the narrow pass at
Thermopylae was a tactical move, the idea that was the
Greek army was a lot smaller but because the pass was tight
the Persian army would not be able to overrun the Greeks.
Xerxes sent Medes and Cissians for the first day’s
engagement and watched in horror as the Greek soldiers
demolished those attacking them without losing many men.
This caused Xerxes to use his Elite troops called the
Immortals on the second assault of the first day; these
soldiers were feared because they were seen as men that
couldn’t die. This was not the case though as the Immortals
also ended up suffering heavy losses.


The second day ended up in the same vain as the first with
Xerxes becoming furious as more men were sent to the
slaughter, the day finished with Xerxes withdrawing his
forces back to camp frustrated. Unfortunately for the Greeks
the fortunes of Xerxes changed when a Greek called
Ephialtes went to Xerxes hoping for reward by telling
Xerxes about the Goat trail in the mountains.
On the third day Xerxes sent a force of men under the
leadership of commander Hydarnes to go through the Goat
trail where the Phocians were defending. The Phocians were
surprised when they saw the Persians and took up weapons
before moving back to a hill for defence as they expected a
fierce battle. The Persians however did not attack; they sent
a volley of arrows and continued on their way to cut off the
Greek force led by Leonidas.


After the Battle of Thermopylae, Athens was in despair. The
Athenians knew that their city would surely be destroyed
by the Persians. There was simply no place between the
Persians and Athens where the Greeks dared to risk battle.
Most of the Athenians fled to the island of Salamis where
they watched their city burn and placed their trust in the
fleet.
Xerxes was sure of victory. He had his throne placed on a
hill overlooking the sea, in part to savor his victory and in
part so his commanders would know that their king was
watching them.


Many of the captains of ships of Athen's allies were
threatening to sail away to protect their own city states.
They feared that the much larger Persian fleet would
destroy them. Themistocles used a ruse to prevent them
from fleeing. He sent a spy to the Persians telling them that
they should come at once and block the pass so the Greeks
could not escape. The Persians took the bait and sailed into
the harbor. There was nothing to do now for the Greek navy
but to fight!
The lighter Greek ships rowed out in a circular fashion and
rammed the front of their ships into the Persian vessel . The
narrow straight, the speed and maneuverability of the Greek
ships and their knowledge of the waters enabled them to
sink two hundred Persian ships.


The Battle of Plataea was the final land battle during the
second Persian invasion of Greece. It took place in 479 BC
near the city of Plataea in Boeotia, and was fought between
an alliance of the Greek city-states, including Sparta, Athens,
Corinth and Megara, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I.
n the summer of 479 BC the Greeks assembled a huge (by
contemporary standards) army and marched out of the
Peloponnesus. The Persians retreated to Boeotia and built a
fortified camp near Plataea. The Greeks, however, refused to
be drawn into the prime cavalry terrain around the Persian
camp, resulting in a stalemate that lasted 11 days.


While attempting a retreat after their supply lines were
disrupted, the Greek battle line fragmented. Thinking the
Greeks in full retreat, Mardonius ordered his forces to
pursue them, but the Greeks halted and gave battle, routing
the lightly armed Persian infantry and killing Mardonius.
A large portion of the Persian army was trapped in its camp
and killed. The destruction of this army, and the remains of
the Persian navy allegedly on the same day at the Battle of
Mycale, decisively ended the invasion.