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The Persian Wars

The Battle of Marathon

The Persians were still encamped on the beach, their great fleet standing out in the bay. They saw the Athenian army, of course, and made sure their cavalry was posted to cover the road. The army blocked the inland route, but Darius had no intention of trying that route. He intended to move southward, along a road that followed the coastline until it arrived at Athens. There he would teach the Athenians the same lesson he'd taught to Miletus and Eretria.

At dawn, Miltiades ordered an attack. The Persians were still mostly asleep down on the beach, and were quite astonished to see the enemy attacking. More astonishing still, they were attacking at a run. This was of some comfort, for a man isn't going to fight all that well after having run a mile with armor and weapons. The Persians formed up and met the attack, but they were a bit ragged and disorganized.

Still, they routed the Greek center, pushing it back up the valley. The Greeks retreated, pulling the Persians forward and extending their lines. This is exactly what Miltiades had intended. He had given orders to his men to attack and then retreat in the center. He deliberately weakened his center and strengthened the flanks. This took great courage, for the Athenian center had to retreat yet not be overrun.

When the Persians were sufficiently extended, Miltiades gave the command. The center suddenly turned and stood its ground, while the men on the flanks attacked.

The Persians broke ranks and began to retreat. As the Greeks pressed, the retreat became a rout. Many Persians fled northward, only to run into swampy ground where they were cut down. Others ran back to the beach, jumping into the little boats that had ferried them ashore from the fleet. Some Athenians followed them into the water, swimming out after the boats, attacking as they could, and capturing seven Persian ships.

You might enjoy reading Herodotus' account of the battle as well.