-
Period: 499 BCE to 493 BCE
The Ionian Revolt
The Ionian people rose up against Persian rule and revolted. They asked Sparta for their help, but the Spartan king denied them help. The Greek city states of Athens and Eretria sent naval support to assist the Ionians. Despite the assistance from Athens and Eretria, the Persians successfully defeated the Ionian Greeks. -
492 BCE
First Persian Invasion
Persian king Darius I sends a naval fleet led by his general Mardonius to take over Macedonia and Greece, but the invasion is unsuccessful when the fleet was wrecked in a storm off the coast of northeastern Greece. -
491 BCE
Darius Demands Tribute
Darius sent ambassadors to all parts of Greece and demanded submission to his rule. Almost all the Greek city states provided tribute except for Athens and Sparta, who both executed the Persian ambassadors. Darius decided to launch a second campaign against Greece, when he learned Athens and Sparta refused to submit.
https://www.livius.org/articles/person/darius-the-great/ -
490 BCE
Initial Persian Success
The Persians focussed on taking over numerous Greek islands with the most prominent being the capture of Eretria. After capturing Eretria, the Persian army and navy headed to the Greek mainland. -
490 BCE
The Battle of Marathon
Persia, led by Darius I, landed at the Greek city of Marathon and invaded. The Greeks made a quick decision to charge the Persian forces on an open field after the Persian calvary disappeared. This resulted in a fast retreat from the Persians and a overwhelming defeat.
https://www.realmofhistory.com/2017/07/24/14-facts-battle-of-marathon/ -
486 BCE
The Death of Darius
While preparing to reinvade Greece, there was a revolt in the Persian province of Egypt. Before being able to put down the revolt in Egypt, Darius named his son Xerxes to being the successor to the throne. Shortly thereafter, Darius died at the age of 64, and Xerxes became the king of Persia. Xerxes went on to put down the revolt in Egypt.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/khashayarsha-xerxes-persian-king-480-bc-by-alexandre_cortina_bonastre-puttypaint--634303928745039256/ -
483 BCE
Wise Advice of the Themistocles
After fighting at the Battle of Marathon, Athenian general and politician Themistocles was elected archon. In preparation for another Persian invasion, he advocated for Athens to expand their fleet of naval ships, which they did.
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/themistocles-37218.php -
480 BCE
The Battle of Salamis
In this naval battle, Themistocles lured the overwhelming Persian fleet into the straits of Salamis where they could not maneuver due to their sheer numbers and size. The Greek triremes attacked by ramming and boarding the gridlocked Persian forces resulting in their embarrassing defeat.
https://www.maritimeprofessional.com/blogs/post/battle-of-salamis-13554 -
480 BCE
The Battle of Thermopylae
King Xerxes and his 150,000 Persian troops advanced to the pass of Thermopylae where a much smaller Greek force held them off for seven days. The Persian army was told of a secret passage that allowed them to position themselves behind the Greek forces, and once behind them, the Greeks famously fought until their death. https://www.realmofhistory.com/2022/06/08/10-facts-battle-of-thermopylae/ -
479 BCE
The Battle of Platea
After Salamis, the Greeks built up a massive army to march on the Persians. Mardonius and his Persian men were camped near the city of Platea when the Greek army got close, but neither side wanted to be lured into another trap so a stalemate occurred for 11 days. The Greeks began to retreat in order to reestablish their supply line, but when Mardonius saw this, he ordered his men to charge at the enemy, but the Greeks turned around and swiftly cut down the Persian forces, resulting in defeat.