The Battle of Marathon. "History" of Herodotus

When it comes to the Battle of Marathon, manymind comes the legend of the messenger who, carrying to Athens the glad tidings of the victory of the Greeks over the Persians, ran 42.195 km and, having informed his fellow citizens this news, fell down dead. In this connection, in the antiquity, sport discipline arose - a 42 km race, the so-called marathon, which has survived to this day thanks to the Olympic Games. However, the Battle of Marathon itself is known for the fact that in this battle the Athenian army managed to defeat the superior army of the Persians, while the losses of the Greeks amounted to 192 people against 6,400 dead by the enemy.

Sources of information

Marathon battle is covered in the VI book "History"Herodotus. This is the main source, narrating about those events, which has survived to our time. The information given by the ancient Greek historian is often criticized, for his approach to writing his works is to transmit everything that people tell him, and whether or not to believe it all or not is a completely different matter.

Many of the stories of Herodotus can be attributed tolegends and short stories. In addition, various official records and eyewitness accounts served him as sources. Nevertheless, the historian's data are now confirmed by all sorts of research. According to Herodotus, the date of the Battle of Marathon - September 12, 490 BC. e.

Prehistory

In the VI century BC there was an activeThe development of the Persian Empire, which constantly added new territories to itself. In the end, in the west Achaemenid power collided with a highly developed Greek civilization, whose people were very freedom-loving. And although the Persian conquerors managed to subjugate many Hellenic cities located on the west coast of Asia Minor, the Greeks continued to resist, and in 500 BC. e. on these lands an open uprising broke out, which began in Miletus. The Battle of Marathon became a vivid episode of this confrontation.

However, the first years of the uprising did not bring Hellenes,who lived in Asia Minor, great success in the struggle against the conquerors. Despite the fact that Eretria and Athens provided military support to the inhabitants of Miletus, the Greeks were not able to unite all their forces and give the Persians due rebuff. Therefore, in 496 BC. e. The Achaemenid state suppressed insurrections, while declaring war on the whole of Hellas.

The beginning of a new war

In 492 BC. e. The first march against the Greeks was organized, but the fleet that sent the army across the sea was almost completely destroyed by the raging storm. The military operation was interrupted, and the following year the Persian king Darius decided to act differently: he sent ambassadors to Hellas who, on his behalf, demanded submission from the Greeks. Some cities preferred to agree to the demands of Darius, but not all. Residents of Athens and Sparta simply dealt with the Persian ambassadors.

In 490 BC. e. Persians are making a new trip to Hellas, and this time it begins more successfully. Their fleet safely crosses the Aegean Sea, and the army landed in the northeast of Attica - just near the small town of Marathon. In these places, and there was a Marathon battle, which became famous throughout the world.

Preparations for the Battle

The Persian army consisted equally of foot soldiersarchers and cavalry, the total number - twenty thousand people. Marathon plain was great for their tactics of fighting. The army of the Athenians was almost half the size, but considerably superior in equipping lightly armed Persians. It consisted of hoplites, clad in armor, legguards, copper helmets and armed with large shields and long throwing spears. But the Battle of Marathon was won by the Greeks not only because of their good equipment. An important role was played also by strategy.

Miltiad, who was one of the ten commanders,who traditionally led the Greek army, was familiar with the tactics of fighting the Persians. He proposed an effective plan, but the strategists' opinions were divided. Some of them insisted that the army return to Athens and defend the city, while others wished to meet the enemy here in the valley. In the end, Miltiades managed to win the majority over to his side. He said that if the Battle of Marathon was won, it would save other Greek cities from destruction.

The outcome of the battle

The Persians expected their archers to showerenemy hail of arrows, and the cavalry can bypass the Greeks from the flanks and make confusion in their ranks. But Miltiad provided for the possibility of the Persians using this tactic and took retaliatory measures. But the "fleet march" reception, used by the Athenian army, was a surprise for the conquerors. Approaching the Persians for a distance, shot through by archers, the Greeks switched to running, thereby minimizing the damage from enemy arrows. The heavily armed Hellenic hoplites were very effective against both archers and cavalry of the Persians. The result of the battle was the indiscriminate retreat of the conquerors, while a significant part of the Persian army perished on the battlefield.

In fact, for Persia, this lost battledid not have any fatal consequences, because the Power of the Achaemenides was at the height of power and possessed enormous resources. The year of the Battle of Marathon was the beginning of a long period of struggle of the Greeks for their freedom.