Marathon battle in Stoa Poikile, Carl Robert

The Battle of Marathon was an important battle that took place in 490 BC during the Greco-Persian Wars.It was fought between the Persian Empire, led by King Darius I, and the city-state of Athens, led by General Miltiades. Background: The Persian Empire had been expanding its territories and sought to conquer Greece. In 492 BC, Darius I sent a fleet to attack Greece, but it was defeated at the Battle of Marathon. Seeking revenge, Darius I planned another invasion in 490 BC. Preparation: When news of the Persian invasion reached Athens, the city-state quickly sought allies among the other Greek city-states. However, most were reluctant to join Athens in its fight against the powerful Persian Empire. The Athenians decided to face the Persians alone and began to prepare their defence. The Battle: The Persian forces, estimated at around 25,000 soldiers, landed on the plain of Marathon, about 26 miles north-east of Athens. The Athenian army of about 10,000 hoplites (heavily armed infantry) marched to meet them. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Athenians were determined to defend their city. The Athenian general Miltiades devised a strategy to exploit the Persians' weakness. He ordered his troops to form a strong centre and weaker flanks, with the aim of drawing the Persian forces into the centre while attacking their flanks. The battle began with the Persians launching a frontal assault on the Athenian centre. However, the Greeks managed to hold their ground and then pushed back the Persian line. Meanwhile, the weakened Athenian flanks successfully repelled the Persian attacks. As the Persians retreated to their ships, the Athenians pursued them, inflicting heavy casualties. The Persians suffered a significant defeat, losing some 6,400 soldiers, while the Athenians lost only 192 men. Aftermath: The Battle of Marathon was a decisive victory for Athens and a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. It showed that the Persian Empire, renowned for its military might, could be defeated by a smaller Greek force. The Athenians also sent a runner named Pheidippides to bring news of the victory back to Athens, inspiring the modern marathon. The defeat at Marathon deterred Darius I from further invasions, but his son Xerxes I would later launch another major invasion of Greece in 480 BC. Nevertheless, the Battle of Marathon boosted Greek morale and inspired them to continue to resist Persian aggression, ultimately leading to Greek victory in the Greco-Persian Wars.