
The Persian invasion of Greece in 480-479 BC
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Events
By place
Greece
★ The
Persian commander
Mardonius, now based in
Thessaly, wins support from
Argus and western
Arcadia. He tries to win over
Athens but fails.
★ Mardonius attacks Athens once more and the Athenians are forced to retreat, whereupon he razes the city. The
Spartans march north to support Athens against the Persians.
★
27 August — The
Battle of Plataea in
Boeotia ends the Persian invasions of
Greece as the Persian general Mardonius is routed by the Greeks under
Pausanias, nephew of the former Spartan King,
Leonidas. The Athenian contingent is led by the repatriated
Aristides. Mardonius is killed in the battle and the Greeks capture enormous amounts of booty.
Thebes is captured shortly thereafter and the Theban collaborators executed by Pausanias.
★
27 August — Meanwhile at sea, the Persians are defeated by a Greek fleet headed by
Leotychides of Sparta and
Xanthippus of Athens at the
Battle of Mycale, off the coast of
Lydia in
Asia Minor.
Births
★
Deaths
★
Confucius,
Chinese philosopher (b.
551 BC) (traditional date).
★
Mardonius,
Persian general (killed in the
Battle of Plataea).
★
Ephialtes, betrayer of the
Spartans at the
Battle of Thermopylae.