As I very much enjoy Classical Greco-Persian history (and there isn't a Greek discussion currently, and there should ALWAYS be a Greek discussion!), I decided to write up a article on this glorious battle.
Introduction to the Battle:
479 BC
The Spartans one year ago fell at Thermopylae, and the Athenians soon after crushed the massive Persian navy at Salamis... but the Persians still controlled Northern Hellas.
Xerxes himself had left, returned to Persia and he left control of his armies and the campaign in Greece to his merciless general, Mardonius.
Sparta decided, that now that the Persian navy had been defeated that the Northern Persian army was no longer a threat, being cut off from their supplies. They decided it would be better to just leave the Persians to fall apart.
Athens, however, disagreed and insisted upon a united Greek attack, though they did not seem to be united anymore. Boeotia had decided that the Persians would be better allies, and betrayed the Greek Alliance. While Athens and Sparta bickered over what future action would take place, the situation for Greece was becoming more and more desperate.....
Action takes Place:
After a season of debating and argument, Athens finally convinced Sparta and its immediate allies to march north.
The army began its march, filled with Athenians, Spartans, Corinthians, and many other Greeks commanded by a Spartan named Pausanias.
The Enemy:
Mardonius, the Persian commander, was a force to be reckoned with to the united Greeks. Though he had lost once to the Greeks and lost favour with the old Persian king Darius, Xerxes had realised his commanding potential and reestablished him and left. This was fortunate for the Persians, as Mardonius was arguably a much better commander than Xerxes was. Perhaps Xerxes knew this and that is why he returned to Persepolis.
The major Persian army had almost 50,000 troops. What is amazing about this army was that 10,000 of it was the powerful and deadly Persian cavalry, which was one of the most powerful points of the Persian millitary system.
Mardonius himself hated Greeks, and liked Xerxes's goal of enslaving Greece and it's people to the might of Persia.
The Spartan:
Greece was famous for its various inventions, particularly in governmental areas. Athens arguably invented democracy (Demokratoi) and used it well, while Sparta had a different type of system. Sparta had two kings, so that neither would misuse his given power.
Realistically there was one important King, and one with less power within the city who helped keep the important one in check. The old important King, Leonidas, had died fighting for the freedom of Greece at Thermopylae. His son, next in line to be the "important" King, was still a baby at the time. He would rule, but not until he became of age. Until then, another man would assume his place, and this man was Pausanias.
Pausanias was cousin to the heroic late King Leonidas, and like Leonidas was a mighty commander who knew the Persian army well.
The Persians Retaliate:
Mardonius, seeing this as a chance to finally crush all major Greek opposition, gathered his huge army and prepareed to meet the smaller Greek one in one final decisive battle. Xerxes was depending on him to finish what he started...
Planning and Positioning:
Mardonius of Persia had chosen Platae, plains south of the city Thebes to battle the Greeks because his cavalry would perform more efficiently in a flat land area, and he knew what battling hoplites in rough or narrow terrain meant after witnessing much of the carnage at Thermopylae. He began building large fortifications for the Persian army north of the river Asopos, and his army prepared itself.
Pausanias had positioned the Greek soldiers well, realising that the dangerous 10,000 Persian cavalry was a major threat to his forces. He ordered the Greeks to position themselves in the southern foothills.
Mardonius did not realise that his cavalry would be so ineffective in the comparatively rough terrain the Greeks had chosen, as he ordered a major cavalry charge to begin the battle.
The Battle Commences:
The fast and heavy Persian cavalry moved south towards the Greeks in the foothills, and began his attack. Suddenly realising the error of his tactics, Mardonius decided that there was more strategy in this than he had hoped; he would lure the slower Greeks north, and after crushing much of their forces his larger army could finish the job.
The Greeks, determined not to fall, stood strong as the Persian cavalry smashed into their forces. As more and more charged, the Greeks held out and kept their positions.
Mardonius, realising that the Greeks would not so easily be broken, ended the cavalry charge... he had decided that when the Greeks left the southern hills his cavalry would be effective, but until then he would use the cavalry to cut off the Greek supplies and water.
Hunger and Loss:
Pausanias was growing hungry, and thirsty, along with the other Greeks as their lack of water was beginning to truly effect them. He realised that though he and his forces were in much more danger from the heavy Persian cavalry, they must march to the Asopos river where there was plenty of water. When they arrived, he realised he was in even more danger as the only thing standing between the Greeks and the Persian army was a minor group of hills.
Worse news arrived to Pausanias when he learned that the Persian cavalry had stopped 500 supply wagons from reaching the Greek forces.
Still, the two forces had not met in large scale battle yet, but waited for the other to give in.
Greek Guerrila Tactics:
Mardonius was content with his strategy, hoping that soon the Greeks would surrender or attack much weakened from starvation and thirst.
The Greeks, on the other hand, had a plan of their own. Pausanias had sent various smaller groups of Greeks to march around the Persian army and cut off their food and water, and this seemed to prove sucessful as Mardonius grew angry when he learned Pausanias was using his own tactic against him!
Now Mardonius had decided; he would move his own forces in to cut off the Greeks from their supplies once and for all.
The Persian Skirmish:
Mardonius ordered the Persian forces to move towards the Greeks in smaller numbers, knowing that the last thing Pausanias wanted was a huge battle at the moment. After several days of smaller skirmishing, the Persians had finally wedged themselves between the Greeks and their only water source; the river Asopos.
Pausanias, however, remained calm, and ordered the Greeks to wait out the Persians. After ten days of waiting (and probably much desperation) Pausanias had little choices left.
The Greeks were suffering from lack of water, and Mardonius knew it.
Pausanias's Plan:
Pausanias did not wish to stage a major attack on the Persians yet, nor did he want the Greeks to be slaughtered by the Persians as they marched back south closer to their old position.
Deep into the night, Pausanias had his more inexperianced troops march while his best troops stayed to fight any Persian attempts to attack the Greeks, which to them looked like they were fleeing. They were actually moving to his new position, closer to the mountains where there would be water, and his forces would directly receive supplies (thus halting Mardonius's plan of cutting off Greek supplies).
Many of the inexperienced Greeks, as well as the Corinthians, marched into and outside of the town of Platae for rest, since they became slightly lost marching so late into the night.
Mardonius, seeing what seemed to be the Greek army flee and completely split up, ordered the Persian attack!
Forces Collide:
Mardonius had spent large amounts of Persian money "convincing" Greek treachery, and he actually thought at this point that it was paying off. He assumed the Greeks were retreating because their leaders were bickering once again, and it was very much like the Greeks to act like that.
However, the Persians were surprised at the amount of resistance they met when they thought they would butcher the "unorganised" Greek army.
The Persian cavalry, strong as it was, pushed back many Athenians at the left wing of the Greek troops.
After minutes of battle, the Athenians seemed to be pushing forward again until Mardonius ordered Greek to fight Greek and the treacherous Boeotian hoplites entered the fray and engaged the Athenians, who were pushed back once again. Pausanias himself was in danger when the bulk of the Persian army, its infantry, marched forward and met the powerful and strong professional Spartan hoplites and Pausanias himself.
The Corinthians and other Greeks, quickly seeing the situation, stormed out of the town of Platae and entered the fray as well at this point.
Mardonius knew the strength of the Persian army: its cavalry and archers. One Greek once said that the Persian archers were so many that the sun was blocked when they fired. Being a capable commander, Mardonius ordered the Persian archers to open fire upon the centred Greeks, chiefly the Spartans and many Athenians.
Pausanias quickly ordered the Greek hoplites to raise their shields, as countless arrows smashed into them from the Persian archers. The front line Greeks continued to fight while the others attempted to desperately block the Persian arrows.
Mardonius was content. Perhaps his dream of enslaving Greece would come true.
Decisive Action:
Pausanias cried out to his fellow Spartans, as they charged onward and into the centre of the Persian ranks! Mardonius himself entered the fray with his best Persian infantry, only to become slain himself by the veteran Spartan hoplites who he thought he had outsmarted, and their leader Pausanias. The left wing and centre of the Persian army was broken by the Spartans, while the Athenians finally pushed through the Boeotian traitors with the help of the Corinthians who arrived just in time!
The Persian lines collapsed, and the Greeks had their victory. Spartan hoplites swore that they saw Castor and Polydeuces, the ancient Greek mythological heroes, fight with them in the battle! The Spartan were so confident in the fact that the gods supported and loved them, that they immediately marched north and by themselves attacked the heavily guarded Persian fortifications.
The other Greeks joined them soon, and few Persians escaped.
The Persian army that engaged the Greek at Platae numbered almost 50 000, 10 000 of that being heavy cavalry. The Greeks won the battle with what many historians think is 43,000 soldiers, and none of which were cavalry.
David had slain Goliath, and the Persian invasion was finally over... with a Greek victory. |
