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First Persian Expedition against Greece
In 490 BCE, Darius I sent a naval and land expedition against mainland Greece to punish Athens and Eretria for supporting the burning of Sardis durin…
Timeline
- -490Western coast of Asia Minor · Asia MinorAfter suppressing the Ionian Revolt, Darius I ordered Datis and Artaphernes to lead about 600 warships from Asia Minor, advancing through the Aegean islands toward mainland Greece, with Eretria and Athens as primary targets.
- -490Eretria · EuboeaThe Persian fleet landed on Euboea; after several days of siege, Eretria fell and its inhabitants were plundered. The Persian fleet then crossed the strait toward Attica and landed in the Bay of Marathon.
- -490Marathon · AtticaThe allied forces of Athens and Plataea defeated the Persian landing force on the plain of Marathon, and the Persian expeditionary army withdrew to Asia Minor. Darius planned a larger-scale retaliation but died in 486 BCE, leaving the second expedition to Xerxes I.
Sources
- Greco-Persian Wars: First Persian invasion of Greece https://www.britannica.com/event/Greco-Persian-Wars
- First Persian invasion of Greece https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Persian_invasion_of_Greece