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 primary motivation for the invasion was the need for a response by the Persians to the Ionian revolt. During this revolt, the Greek states of Athens and Eretria had combined forces to help drive the Persians out of Ionia. Though successful in capturing Sardis, the allied Greek forces had to retreat as they were taking heavy casualties. The eventual result was a complete crushing of the Ionian revolt by the Persians. Maddened by the attempt by the Greeks, King Darius I swore to retaliate by burning Athens and Eretria to the ground.
During the Marathon conflict, the two largest cities in Greece were Sparta and Athens. In 490 BC, following up on his promise, King Darius I commanded his two trusted naval commanders, Datis and Artaphernes, to assemble a force and cross the Aegean Sea to Greece. The force was first tasked with besieging Cyclades upon landing.
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.
Noting the dangerous closeness of the enemy, the Athenians joined forces with a contingent from Plataea. Thereafter, they marched onward to Marathon. Upon reaching the city, they proceeded to block the two exit routes around 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 resulting envelope resulted in the complete wipe out of the Persians. Sensing defeat, the remainder of the invaders ran towards their ships. The greatest lesson of the story is that the Athenians were able to crush their opponents without the help of the revered Spartans.
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 primary motivation for the invasion was the need for a response by the Persians to the Ionian revolt. During this revolt, the Greek states of Athens and Eretria had combined forces to help drive the Persians out of Ionia. Though successful in capturing Sardis, the allied Greek forces had to retreat as they were taking heavy casualties. The eventual result was a complete crushing of the Ionian revolt by the Persians. Maddened by the attempt by the Greeks, King Darius I swore to retaliate by burning Athens and Eretria to the ground.
During the Marathon conflict, the two largest cities in Greece were Sparta and Athens. In 490 BC, following up on his promise, King Darius I commanded his two trusted naval commanders, Datis and Artaphernes, to assemble a force and cross the Aegean Sea to Greece. The force was first tasked with besieging Cyclades upon landing.
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.
Noting the dangerous closeness of the enemy, the Athenians joined forces with a contingent from Plataea. Thereafter, they marched onward to Marathon. Upon reaching the city, they proceeded to block the two exit routes around 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 resulting envelope resulted in the complete wipe out of the Persians. Sensing defeat, the remainder of the invaders ran towards their ships. The greatest lesson of the story is that the Athenians were able to crush their opponents without the help of the revered Spartans.
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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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