Marathon battle: date, summary, scheme

In the history of many countries of the world there are significant battles that become a kind of symbol for future generations. For Russia, this is Borodino and Stalingrad, for France - the removal of the siege of Orleans, for the Serbs - the battle on the Kosovo Field. A similar role for the Hellenes was played by the Marathon battle. The brief content, causes and consequences of this battle will be considered below. The victory in this battle not only allowed the ancient Greeks to defend their independence, but also created conditions that further consolidated them in a single force against an external threat.

Background to the conflict

In the 6th century BC , the largest power of the time - the Persian Empire - was formed on the territory of the Near and Middle East . In a number of wars in a relatively short period of time, it won and subdued such great states as Media, Babylon, Lydia and Egypt. Persians also captured numerous Greek city-states, located in the territory of Asia Minor, that in modern Turkey.

In 499 BC. E. These policies revolted against the Persian domination. Substantial support was given to them by Athens, who by that time, thanks to a number of outstanding statesmen who conducted democratic reforms, began to play the most important political and economic role among all Greek city-states.

But the insurrection was still suppressed by the Persian army. And for the Persians themselves, the intervention of Athens in the affairs of the empire was a good reason for the organization of expansion to the Balkan Peninsula, the capture of which they have long dreamed of.

The War Begins

In 492, by order of the Persian king Darius I, Thrace was conquered - a country located at the very borders of Greece. Then the emperor of the empire sent an ultimatum to all the city-states of Hellas, demanding to recognize his supremacy. Almost all the policies of Greece, fearing the power of the Persians, humbly fulfilled this demand, except for the freedom-loving Athens and Sparta.

Deciding to punish the Athenians for their obstinacy, Darius I sent in 490 BC. E. For their conquest the expedition, led by the son of his sister Artaphernom. The Persians easily captured the island of Nakosos and landed on Euboea, the island where the allied Athenian city of Eretria was located. In the course of a heavy siege, Darius's troops managed to seize the policy, taking advantage of the betrayal of some of the local residents. The city was subject to cruel plunder, and its inhabitants were turned into slavery.

After this, the Persian forces sailed towards Attica, the Greek region where Athens was located. There they landed near the small town of Marathon. It was here that the Marathon battle, significant for the Hellenes, took place. Date September 12, 490 BC. E. Became for them really significant.

Before the battle

As soon as the Athenians learned of the landing of Darius forces near their city, they immediately sent the army to meet them. This was a very unexpected decision for the Persians, because they thought that a relatively small army of Athens would prefer to keep a siege in the city, and not meet with an enemy in excess of their number in the open field.

However, the Greeks themselves did not immediately take this decision, even though the Athenians came to the aid of the Plateans. But the commander Miltiades managed to convince the supreme commander Kallimah that this step was necessary. His heartfelt speech persuaded other strategists not to wait for the Spartans' army, which was soon to come to the rescue, but as soon as possible to start a battle that went down in history, like the Marathon battle. The plan was in suddenness. On the general council, the command in the forthcoming battle was entrusted to Miltiades.

Forces of opponents

According to historians, the Greek army consisted of 9,000-10,000 Athenians and 1,000 Platya. The main force of the Hellenic army was hoplites, organized into a phalanx. To break such a system, consisting of disciplined and experienced warriors, was extremely difficult. On the right flank of the Greek army there were hoplites led by Kallimah, in the center - soldiers from the Athenian Philae of Antiochids and Leontides, under the leadership of Aristide and Themistocles, the future hero of the Salamis' naval battle, respectively, and on the left flank there was a thousand plateys.

Where more numerous was the Persian army. According to experts, it had 25,000 foot soldiers and a thousand horsemen. Although, ancient historians, to gloss over the victory of the Hellenes give figures of 200 and even 600 thousand people. But the qualitative composition of the Persian army was much worse than the Athenian, since it, unlike the monolithic Greek phalanx, consisted of rather scattered units and various tribes. Not all of them were properly equipped. In addition, the Greeks were much more motivated, because they fought for their own freedom and land, in contrast to the Persian warriors going to war only for the sake of the king's interests.

Battle

The marathon battle began with the impetuous advance of the Greeks. Separating them from the Persians a mile and a half, they literally ran, although it seems incredible, because the Athenian hoplites were heavily armed soldiers.

At first, the strongest central part of the Persian army pressed the detachments of Philo Antiochida and Leontida, and began their persecution. But the Hellenic army had quite strong flanks, while in the Persians they consisted of poorly organized and poorly armed tribes. For this reason, the Athenians and Plateys triumphed over the enemy in these sectors. But, unlike the Persians, they did not begin to pursue the fleeing enemy, but turned their weapons against the center of the army of Darius. Thus, and in this area the Greeks managed to achieve a decisive superiority of forces. This maneuver dashed the Persian army into panic, and it began to run to its ships.

This time, the Greeks did not stop the persecution and rushed in pursuit of the enemy, who had completely lost his fighting system. As a result, in addition to the many killed, 7 Persian ships were captured, and the Hellenes completed with complete victory the Marathon battle. The scheme of this landmark battle is located below.

Battle Results

The Athenians together with the Plateans certainly won the Marathon battle. The plan of Miltiades fully justified itself. Serious historians do not have different points of view about this. But according to the number of deaths, the calculations of specialists vary considerably.

But it is reasonable to challenge the figures, called by almost a contemporary of those events - Herodotus, because of the lack of adequate material and documentary base, no one can. He also speaks of 192 killed Hellenes and 6400 Persians. And among the dead Greeks were such famous figures as Callimachus and Kineghir.

Running at the cost of life

As soon as the Marathon battle was over, the Greeks sent the messenger Evkl to Athens with joyous news of triumph. He was so eager to please his fellow citizens that he ran 40 kilometers separating the Marathon from his native city, literally in one breath. Ran into the city square, he informed the inhabitants of the policy of victory and immediately died of a heart rupture.

True, the historical authenticity of this legend is very doubtful, but one of the most popular track and field disciplines, namely running at 42.195 km, is called marathon.

The meaning of the Marathon battle

Marathon battle did not put an end to the Persians' aspirations to gain a foothold in the Balkans, in particular to win Greece. It only postponed this plan for 10 years, when the even more numerous army of Xerxes, the son of Darius, invaded Hellas. But it was the memory of this victory that inspired the Hellenes to hopeless, it seemed, resistance. The marathon battle showed that even small forces can be defeated over a large, but poorly organized, army of conquerors.

Memory of the Battle of Marathon

The memory of this victory has not lost its relevance for thousands of years. Such a significant place in the hearts of the Greeks was occupied by the Marathon battle. His date was always sacred to the Greeks. But this battle was significant not only for one people, it was important for the whole world history. This can be borne out by the fact that in any school textbook on ancient history the Marathon battle is covered. 5 class in Russian schools necessarily learns this topic in the course of history. Every educated person is obliged to know about this event.

Now only the obelisk says that at the place where the hill now rises, once the Marathon battle took place. Photos of this commemorative sign can be seen below.

The memory of the Marathon battle lives in the heart of every person who is ready to give his life for the freedom and independence of the Motherland.