Events Leading up to the Battle
Before the battle we see a very anti-Persian rule attitude displayed vehemently by the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta when Darius I sent emissaries to Greece in 491BCE. This was preceeded by the unsuccessful Ionian Revolt from 499-495BCE which was engineered and led by Athens and Eretria. It was in reaction to this that we see Darius sending his ambassadors to the Polises after conquering Thrace and Macedon in 492BCE. We see the key causes of the first Persian War coming into light as Athens and Sparta executed Darius' ambassadors, effectively declaring war on his empire. Within a year Darius had launched his amphibious assault on Greece, conquering the Cycladic Islands and destroying the city of Eretria as punishment for its vital revolt in the Ionian Revolt. Darius' forces then continued North and so began the Battle of Marathon. Despite Spartan forces unavaliable due to a religious festival in August that wouldnt allow them to engage in military combat for a minimum of ten days, Athens prevailed over the Persian Army, effectively ending the first Greco-Persian War.
Defeated, Darius then returns to Persia with the intent to command a massive force against Greece to avenge his previous loss. Due to failing health and his death in 486BCE this would never happen. After Xerxes' attaining the power of his father, he continued this mission, keen to expand his empire further.
His amphibious force sailed towards Greece, conquering large parts of central Greece before a large portion marched towards Thermopylae, the other fleet of ships sailing towards Artemisium. Then came the Battle of Thermopylae in early September of 480 BCE.
Defeated, Darius then returns to Persia with the intent to command a massive force against Greece to avenge his previous loss. Due to failing health and his death in 486BCE this would never happen. After Xerxes' attaining the power of his father, he continued this mission, keen to expand his empire further.
His amphibious force sailed towards Greece, conquering large parts of central Greece before a large portion marched towards Thermopylae, the other fleet of ships sailing towards Artemisium. Then came the Battle of Thermopylae in early September of 480 BCE.