persian invasion greece persian invasion greece began ended decisive victory battle marathon invasion consisting distinct campaigns ordered persian king primarily order punish city states athens cities supported cities revolt persian rule wrath saw opportunity extend empire europe secure western frontier campaign led forced fully subordinate client kingdom persia vassal persia early late 6th century progress prevented fleet wrecked storm coast following year having demonstrated intentions sent ambassadors parts greece demanding submission received athens executed ambassadors athens defiant effectively war ordered military campaign following year second persian campaign command expedition headed island captured burnt island rest persian empire expedition landed besieged brief time captured razed citizens enslaved finally task force headed landing marathon route athens met smaller army proceeded win remarkable victory battle marathon defeat prevented successful conclusion campaign task force returned asia expedition fulfilled aims bringing persian rule inclusion unfinished business campaign led prepare larger invasion greece firmly punish athens internal strife empire delayed expedition died old age left son lead second persian invasion greece beginning background persian invasion greece immediate roots earliest phase persian wars result longer term interaction greeks relatively young highly prone revolts subject peoples persian king spent considerable time revolts rule begun expand empire europe expanding past danube river conquering forcing client kingdom persia retaining autonomy attempts expansion politically world inevitable directly threatened integrity persian empire states mainland greece remained potential menace future stability resolved greece punish involved revolt begun unsuccessful expedition joint venture persian aftermath decided remove power declared democracy cities rebellion followed suit persian appointed declaring appealed states support athens offered send troops involvement athens revolt arose complex set circumstances beginning establishment democracy late 6th century aid king people expelled ruler athens father family ruled previous years fully intended continue rule fled court persian promised control athens help restore meantime helped install pro athens opposition leader traditionally powerful family considered natural heirs rule athens daring response proposed people establish democracy athens horror rest aristocracy reasons suggesting radical course action remove family power unclear perceived days aristocratic rule coming end certainly wished prevent athens puppet means necessary result proposal family exiled athens addition elements having promised democracy people seized moment revolted restored athens speed began establish democratic government establishment democracy athens henceforth leading cities greece new found freedom self governance meant exceptionally hostile return form outside persia pleased events marched athens army attempts restore athens ended fearing worst point sent embassy request aid requested earth water traditional token submission ambassadors severely returned athens point later instigated plot restore rule athens failed fled tried persuade athens dispatched ambassadors dissuade taking action merely instructed resolved instead openly war persia having enemy persia athens position support cities began revolt fact inspired example athens doubt persuaded support revolt especially cities supposedly originally colonies city sent assistance reasons completely clear possibly commercial reasons factor city trade threatened persian dominance suggests supported revolt order repay support given past war sent task force asia minor whilst greek army surprised marching burning lower city greeks achieved pursued coast persian horsemen losing men process despite fact actions ultimately fruitless particular earned lasting vowed punish cities persian naval victory battle ended hold outs persian fleet revolt opportunity extend empire border islands persian completion allowed begin planning moves threat empire greece punish athens campaign spring expeditionary force commanded son law assembled consisting fleet land army whilst ultimate aim punish athens expedition aimed subdue greek cities possible departing sent army march whilst travelled fleet sailed round coast asia minor spent short time ruled cities ironically establishment key factor replaced fleet continued ready shipped land forces europe army marched lands added persian empire campaign reaching forced macedonia fully subordinate late 6th century retained general autonomy fleet crossed resulting submitting fleet rounded coastline far attempting round caught violent storm drove coastline according ships loss men whilst army camped local tribe launched night raid persian camp killing wounding despite injury sure defeated leading army remnants navy retreated asia campaign ended land approaches greece secured greeks doubt aware intentions diplomacy reasoning expedition previous year plans greece obvious weakened resolve greek cities turned diplomacy sent ambassadors greek city states asking earth water traditional token submission vast majority cities asked fearing wrath athens ambassadors trial executed simply thrown firmly finally drew battle lines coming conflict athens despite recent fight thrown disarray internal citizens submitted persian ambassadors troubled possibility persia naval base asked intervene travelled confront personally appealed fellow king supported stance responded having declared illegitimate help priests replaced cousin faced kings handed hostages guarantee good behaviour news emerged bribes given expelled city sought rally northern cause relented invited city widely considered insane sentenced prison found dead following day succeeded half brother campaign taking advantage chaos effectively left athens isolated decided launch amphibious expedition finally punish athens army assembled marched fleet gathered command expedition given son size persian force according fleet sent consisted indication historical sources transport ships accompanied claimed transport ships accompanied invasion modern historians accepted number ships reasonable suggested number represents combined number transport ships horse transports addition estimate size persian army saying formed large infantry packed ancient sources poet near contemporary says campaign force numbered later writer estimates infantry cavalry independently dictionary assert modern historians generally dismiss numbers approach estimate number troops number marines carried tells second invasion greece carried extra marines addition probable standard marines easily carried infantry numbers proposed persian infantry range consensus persian infantry invasion probably group drawn empire according general type armour style fighting troops generally speaking armed bow short spear sword carried shield wore leather exception ethnic persian troops worn scaled armour contingents armed somewhat differently instance renowned elite contingents persian infantry ethnic specifically mentions presence marathon style fighting probably stand enemy bows equivalent wear enemy closing deliver coup grace spear sword estimates cavalry usually range persian cavalry usually provided ethnic probably fought lightly armed missile cavalry fleet proportion transport ships cavalry carried ship whilst claims cavalry carried estimates transport ships required carry cavalry assembled persian force sailed firstly island rhodes temple chronicle records besieged city unsuccessful fleet moved north coast abruptly turning west fleet sailed order punish resistance failed expedition mounted decade earlier inhabitants fled mountains caught enslaved burnt city temples moving persian fleet approached fled homes having demonstrated persian power intended islands submitted sent herald proclaiming holy men fled away intent desire king command harm land gods born land inhabitants return homes island burned talents altar apollo respect gods island fleet proceeded island hop rest way taking hostages troops island finally arrived southern tip citizens refused hostages besieged land ravaged submitted siege task force sailed major target according divided best course action flee highlands undergo siege submit event majority decision remain city attempt stop landing advancing allowed besieged days attacked walls losses sides seventh day opened gates betrayed city city razed temples looted burned furthermore according commands enslaved remaining townspeople persian fleet headed south coast landing bay marathon roughly miles athens advice son athens joined small force marched marathon succeeded blocking exits plain marathon time athens greatest runner sent request army march athens aid arrived festival period peace informed army march war moon rose athens expect reinforcement days decided hold marathon time reinforced contingent stalemate ensued days reasons completely clear decided attack despite numerical advantage proved effective routing wings turning centre persian line remnants persian army left battle fled ships records persian bodies counted battlefield lost men immediate aftermath battle says persian fleet sailed cape attack athens directly modern historians place attempt battle way evidently realised city threat marched quickly possible athens arrived time prevent securing landing seeing opportunity lost turned returned asia day army arrived having covered kilometers days toured battlefield marathon agreed won great victory aftermath defeat marathon ended time persian invasion greece islands persian empire reduced subordinate kingdom empire late 6th century remained having broad scope autonomy fully intent conquering greece secure western empire athens remained role athens treatment persian ambassadors began raising huge new army meant completely greece egyptian subjects revolted indefinitely greek expedition died whilst preparing march egypt throne persia passed son crushed egyptian revolt quickly restarted preparations invasion greece expedition finally ready second persian invasion greece began command significance expeditions greece largely successful new territories added empire punished minor setback invasion met defeat marathon defeat barely enormous resources persian empire greeks enormously significant victory time greeks beaten showed invincible resistance possible victory marathon defining moment young democracy showing achieved unity self belief battle effectively marks start golden age athens applicable greece victory endowed greeks faith destiny endure centuries western culture born famous opinion battle marathon event british history important battle hastings militarily major lesson greeks potential style developed warfare greeks city state fought way advantages obvious marathon time faced lightly armed troops revealed devastating battle formation vulnerable cavalry cause caution greek forces battle right circumstances shown potentially devastating weapon disregarded military lessons marathon composition infantry second invasion despite availability heavy infantry persian ruled lands having won battles previously simply regarded marathon ancient sources funeral lives eminent commanders parallel lives description greece marcus history modern sources green peter persian wars isbn holland tom world empire battle west isbn defence greece isbn crucial battle created western democracy press isbn davis paul decisive battles isbn past nineteenth century isbn fuller fine ancient greeks critical history isbn sources citation invention translated leeds moses introduction history war translated isbn howe studies culture honor isbn greek nation volume athens battle marathon dawn classical greece war history magazine january athens persian wars retrieved joseph companion ancient macedonia sons isbn
First Persian invasion of Greece