The Battle of Marathon took place during the Greco-Persian Wars, on September 13, 490 BC. e., between Greek and Persian troops.

In this battle, the Greeks for the first time defeated the Persians, who were trying to conquer their lands. In the VI century. BC e. Greece, having left far in the past both the heyday and decline of the brilliant Mycenaean civilization, and the dark ages of decline, was experiencing a new dawn of its revival. At that time there was no single state in Greece, but there were separate city-states called policies.

The most significant were Athens and Sparta. The Athenians controlled Attica, and the Spartans controlled Lacedaemon in the Peloponnese. The Greeks called their country Hellas, and themselves Hellenes. This name has survived to this day. In ancient times, the Greeks lived not only in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and on the islands of the Aegean Sea, but also on the coast of Asia Minor. The cities of the Hellenes stood on the coast, and a threat was approaching them from the depths of the continent.

In those days, one of the peoples of the Iranian Highlands rose to prominence - the Persians. Having freed himself from the rule of neighboring Media and captured it, the Persian king Cyrus led his people to conquer their neighbors, first close and then distant.

They say that the servant, serving him food, was obliged to repeat every time, by order of the king: “Sir, remember the Athenians.” However, the first campaign against Athens (in 492 BC) was unsuccessful: a storm near Cape Athos scattered the fleet, destroying almost 300 ships. Darius had to turn back, but the next year the king of the Achaemenid state sent ambassadors to the cities of Greece, demanding submission to him. Many policies agreed to do this, but not Athens and Sparta. The Athenians threw the envoys off a cliff, and the Spartans drowned the envoys in a well.

Darius prepared for war. The ruler believed that this would be just a punitive action against the rebellious inhabitants of a distant province. The Persian ruler had reason to be confident. In those days, the army of this state was powerful and well organized. Its core consisted of the king's bodyguards - the “immortals”. The Achaemenid army included infantry archers and cavalry. Metal helmets and wicker shields served as protection for the warriors. In addition, the Persians were excellent in hand-to-hand combat. In the spring of 490 BC. e. Darius I launched a second campaign against Greece. He assembled an army of 10,000 horsemen and about 10,000 foot archers, many lightly armed infantry. The army was led by the generals Datis and Artaphernes. They crossed the southern Aegean Sea in 600 ships and landed in Central Greece.

The main target of the aggressors was rebellious Athens. Greek army of the 5th century. BC e. consisted mainly of heavily armed infantry - hoplites. So the armies of the Athenians and Persians were about to collide. On one summer day in 490 BC. e. The messenger brought terrible news to Athens - warships of the envoys of the Achaemenid dynasty were discovered in Marathon Bay. The Athenians managed to gather about 10,000 people. Residents of the freedom-loving polis understood that this was not enough, and sent messengers to all the cities of Greece. But only Plataea responded and sent a thousand fighters.

The Spartans promised to arrive later, when the religious festivities were over. And 11,000 warriors had to confront the larger Persian army. Therefore, the Athenians convened a council of war. The Athenian army did not have a single commander. The army was led by ten strategists, each of whom had equal rights. Opinions were divided, many suggested waiting for the Spartans. One of the strategists, named Miltiades, was well acquainted with the military tactics of the Persians, and it was he who insisted on setting out on the campaign immediately.

From Athens to Marathon 42 km. When the Athenians and Plataeans approached the bay, it turned out that the Persians had already landed long ago, pulled the ships ashore and set up a camp. The Greeks did not go out to the Marathon plain, where it would have been difficult for them to cope with the enemy’s cavalry, but positioned themselves on the hills so as to block the enemy’s path to Athens. The Achaemenid army, of course, discovered the Athenians, but was careful not to climb into the mountainous terrain. The invaders hoped to lure Miltiades onto the plain. But the experienced strategist was waiting for the Spartans.

In the end, Datis and Artaphernes loaded part of the army onto ships to approach unprotected Athens by sea. This happened on the night of September 13, 490 BC. e. Miltiades realized that the hour had come and decided to give battle in the valley overlooking the Marathon plain. The valley was a kilometer wide, and there were not enough people, and the strategist had to build a long phalanx of six ranks in order to completely block the road to Athens and not be surrounded. Miltiades himself commanded the center, the Plataeans stood on the left flank, and the best Athenian hoplites stood on the right flank. The Persians had foot archers in the center and horsemen on the flanks. Miltiades saw the danger of the battle in the valley, and the military leader took a risk: he ordered the soldiers not to walk, but to run to the attack. Moving in this way, the phalanx lost its advantage - solidity. There was one more disadvantage: slingers and dart throwers did not have time to use their weapons while running. But Miltiades calculated everything correctly.

The Greeks managed to quickly overcome the area hit by enemy arrows. In addition, this was an example of a psychic attack - the Persians were confused from surprise. However, the battle started poorly for the Athenians. The most noble citizens of Athens died first - they were better armed and therefore walked in the first ranks. The infantry of the Achaemenid army struck the center of the phalanx. The hoplites first retreated and then fled. The Persians gave chase. On the flanks, however, things were different. Here the hoplites withstood the pressure of the enemy cavalry, overturned it and began to press the center on both sides. Soon the Persian army was almost completely surrounded.

Carried away by the pursuit, Datis and Artaphernes did not immediately notice that they were cut off from the ships. They tried to launch a counterattack, but were unable to disrupt the phalanx because almost all the arrows had already been spent at the beginning of the attack. And the hoplites of the center, who were pursued by the enemy, now found themselves in the role of pursuers. The Persians realized that they had to break through to the ships at any cost. In a desperate battle, the horsemen cut through the hoplite formation, opening the way for the infantry. The Athenians chased the enemy and managed to capture seven ships. On the rescued ships, the Persians put to sea and moved towards Athens. They hoped to capture the city while there were no troops there. But the conquerors underestimated the military skill of the Athenians. After a many-hour battle, they made a forty-two-kilometer march to the city. And when Datis and Artaphernes approached Phaler, the harbor of Athens, they were horrified and surprised to find on the shore the same army with which they had just fought all day. The Persians did not dare to fight a second battle and turned back.

Meanwhile, two thousand Spartans finally arrived at Athens. They went to Marathon and began to study the battlefield and examine the weapons of the killed Persian soldiers. There were many killed. Herodotus claims that the Persians lost 6,400 people killed, and the Greeks lost 192 people. There were probably at least a thousand wounded. On the Marathon field, at the site of the battle, next to the mass grave of soldiers who died for their homeland, a monument was erected in honor of the strategist Miltiades. Scenes from the Battle of Marathon were depicted in one of the porticoes located in the main square of Athens. After the Battle of Marathon, the Persians lost their former aura of invincibility. It turned out that these formidable warriors can be beaten! Moreover, the Greeks became convinced that hoplites were capable of successfully fighting enemy cavalry.

Spector, A. A. The greatest battles of all times and peoples/A. A. Spector. - Moscow: ACT, 2014.-240s: ill.

Background

In the 6th century BC, the Persian Empire was actively developing, constantly annexing new territories. Ultimately, in the west, the Achaemenid power encountered the highly developed Greek civilization, whose people were very freedom-loving. And although the Persian conquerors managed to subjugate many Hellenic cities located on the western coast of Asia Minor, the Greeks continued to resist, and in 500 BC. e. An open rebellion broke out in these lands, starting in Miletus. The Battle of Marathon became a striking episode of this confrontation. However, the first years of the uprising did not bring the Hellenes living in Asia Minor much success in the fight against the conquerors. Despite the fact that Eretria and Athens provided military support to the inhabitants of Miletus, the Greeks were never able to unite all their forces and provide a proper rebuff to the Persians. Therefore, in 496 BC. e. The Achaemenid power suppressed the rebellions, while declaring war on all of Hellas.

The beginning of a new war

In 492 BC. e. The first campaign against the Greeks was organized, but the fleet transporting the army across the sea was almost completely destroyed by a raging storm. The military operation was interrupted, and the next 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 chose to agree to Darius' demands, but not all. The inhabitants of Athens and Sparta simply dealt with the Persian ambassadors. In 490 BC. e. The Persians undertake a new campaign in Hellas, and this time it begins more successfully. Their fleet safely crosses the Aegean Sea, and the army lands in the northeast of Attica - just near the small city of Marathon. The Battle of Marathon took place in these places, which became famous throughout the world.

Strengths of the parties

Greek forces

Herodotus does not provide data on the size of the Greek army that participated in the Battle of Marathon. Cornelius Nepos and Pausanias speak of 9 thousand Athenians and a thousand Plataeans. Roman historian of the 3rd century AD. e. Justin writes about 10 thousand Athenians and a thousand Plataeans. These figures are comparable to the number of warriors who, according to Herodotus, participated in the Battle of Plataea 11 years after the events described. In his essay “Description of Hellas,” Pausanias, when talking about the Marathon Valley, points out the presence of mass graves on it - Athenians, Plataeans and slaves, who were first involved in military battles during the battle. Modern historians generally agree with the number of Hellenes participating in the battle given in ancient sources.

Persian army

According to Herodotus, the Persian fleet initially consisted of 600 ships. However, he does not indicate the number of troops directly, saying only that it was “numerous and well equipped.” Ancient sources are characterized by overestimating the size of the army of their defeated enemy. This made the victories of the Hellenes even more heroic. In Plato's dialogue "Menexenus" and Lysias' "Funeral Oration" the figure is indicated at 500 thousand. The Roman historian Cornelius Nepos, who lived much later, estimates the size of the army of Datis and Artaphernes at 200 thousand infantry and 10 thousand horsemen. The largest figure of 600 thousand is found in Justin. Modern historians estimate the army that invaded Hellas at an average of 25 thousand foot soldiers and one thousand horsemen (although there are also figures of 100 thousand).

Comparative characteristics of the Greek and Persian troops

The Persian army consisted of representatives of many peoples and tribes subject to the Achaemenid empire. The warriors of each nationality had their own weapons and armor. Herodotus' detailed description states that the Persians and Medes wore soft felt hats, trousers and colorful tunics. Their armor was made of iron scales like fish scales, and their shields were woven from rods. They were armed with short spears and large bows with reed arrows. On the right hip was a sword-dagger (akinak). The warriors of other tribes were much less armed, mostly with bows, and often just clubs and burnt stakes. Among the protective equipment, in addition to shields, Herodotus mentions that they had copper, leather and even wooden helmets. The Greek phalanx was a dense battle formation of heavily armed warriors in several ranks. During the battle, the main task was to preserve its integrity: the place of the fallen warrior was taken by another standing behind him. The main factor that influenced the development of the phalanx was the use of a large round shield (hoplon) and a closed helmet of the Corinthian type. Leather straps were attached to the inner surface of the hoplon, through which a hand was inserted. Thus, the shield was held on the left forearm. The warrior controlled the shield by holding the belt closer to its edge. Protecting the hoplite on the left, such a shield left the right half of the body open. Because of this, in the Greek phalanx the soldiers had to stay in a tight line so that each hoplite covered his neighbor on the left, while being covered by his neighbor on the right. For a Greek, losing a shield in battle was considered a dishonor, since it was used not only for his own safety, but also for the protection of the entire rank. The head of a hoplite in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. protected by a bronze helmet of the Corinthian (or “Dorian”) type, which was worn on a felt lining-cap. The solid Corinthian helmet provided complete protection for the head, but hindered peripheral vision and hearing. The warrior saw only the enemy in front of him, which did not pose much danger in a dense battle formation.

During the Greco-Persian Wars, so-called “anatomical” bronze armor, consisting of chest and back plates, was still common. The plates reproduced the muscular contours of the male torso in relief with sculptural precision. Hoplites wore linen tunics under their armor, and Spartans traditionally covered themselves with red cloaks over their armor. The disadvantage of bronze cuirass was the unprotected hips. During this era, the so-called linothoraxes, shells based on many layers of flax impregnated with glue, had already appeared, which after a few decades replaced the “anatomical” bronze shells in Greece. Linothoraxes made it possible to cover the hips without restricting the warrior’s movements. The protective equipment also included bronze greaves. They followed the contour of the front of the shin to fit tightly around the legs and not interfere with walking.

Preparing for battle

The Persian army consisted equally of foot archers and cavalry, the total number was twenty thousand people. The Marathon plain was wonderfully suited to their battle tactics. The Athenian army was almost half the size, but was significantly superior in equipment to the lightly armed Persians. It consisted of hoplites, dressed 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 due to their good equipment. Strategy also played an important role.

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

Battle

The German classical historian Ernst Curtius, based on an analysis and comparison of descriptions of the Battle of Marathon and the events preceding it, explains why Miltiades attacked the enemy army on the morning of September 12, 490 BC. e., without waiting for the Spartan army to come to the rescue. He draws attention to the fact that in all the sources that have reached us there is no description of the actions of the cavalry, on which the Persians had high hopes. At certain stages of the battle it could play a decisive role. Curtius is also surprised by the speed with which the Persian army was allegedly boarded. In conditions of complete defeat, this is unlikely. Based on this, the German historian comes to the conclusion that the Persians, seeing the fortified positions of the Athenians and Plataeans on the mountain slopes, abandoned the idea of ​​​​going to Athens through the Marathon Pass. They preferred to land in a place more convenient for maneuvers, where there would be no mountain passes and the only well-fortified road. Curtius concludes that Miltiades launched his attack only when the Persian army was divided and the cavalry troops had already been loaded onto the ships. Thus, he attacked the troops left behind and covering the departure of the army. Given these prerequisites, it becomes clear why the Athenians did not wait for the professional warriors of the Spartans to set out on the campaign.

The distance between the Greeks and Persians was at least 8 stadia (about 1.5 kilometers). Miltiades lined up his army in battle formation - the Athenians under the command of Callimachus were on the right flank, the Plataeans were on the left, and in the center were citizens from the phyla Leontis and Antiochida under the command of Themistocles and Aristides. The Hellenic battle line turned out to be equal in width to the Persian one, but its center was only a few rows deep. It was in the center that the Greek army was weakest. On the flanks the battle line was built much deeper.

After the formation, the Greeks began to attack. According to Herodotus, they ran all 8 stages. Modern researchers emphasize the impossibility of such an offensive for heavily armed warriors without disrupting the battle order. It is assumed that the Athenians and Plataeans marched the first part of the journey and only after reaching a distance when enemy arrows began to reach them (about 200 m) did they start running. For the Persians, the attack came as a surprise. As Herodotus emphasizes: They were the first of all the Hellenes to attack the enemies at a run and were not afraid of the sight of Median attire and warriors dressed in Median style. Until now, even the very name of the Medes brought fear to the Hellenes. The battle lasted a long time. In the center of the battle line, where the selected detachments of the army of Datis and Artaphernes - the Persians and Saca - stood, and the Greek line was weak, the Hellenes began to retreat. The Persians broke through the ranks of the Athenians and began to pursue them. However, the Greeks won on both flanks. Instead of pursuing the retreating enemies, they turned and attacked the troops that had broken through the center. As a result, panic began among the Persians, and they began to randomly retreat to the ships. The Greeks managed to capture seven enemy ships.

According to Herodotus, the Greek losses amounted to only 192 Athenians, among whom were the polemarch Callimachus and Aeschylus' brother Cynegirus. The “father of history” estimates the Persian losses at 6,400 people. The fate of one of the main military leaders of the Achaemenid Empire, Datis, varies in various ancient sources. So, according to Herodotus, Datis returned back to Asia. According to Ctesias, who used the Persian chronicles, Datis died during the battle. Moreover, the Greeks refused to hand over the body of their commander to the Persians.

Outcome of the battle

The Persians hoped that their archers would shower the enemy with a hail of arrows, and the cavalry would be able to outflank the Greeks and cause confusion in their ranks. But Miltiades foresaw the possibility of the Persians using this tactic and took retaliatory measures. But the “running march” technique used by the Athenian army came as a surprise to the conquerors. Having approached the Persians at a distance covered by archers, the Greeks began to run, 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 a disorderly retreat of the conquerors, while a significant part of the Persian army died on the battlefield. In fact, for Persia this lost battle did not have any fatal consequences, because the Achaemenid Power was at the peak of its power and possessed enormous resources. The year of the Battle of Marathon marked the beginning of a long period of Greek struggle for their freedom.

The significance of the battle for the further course of the Greco-Persian wars

The significance of the battle was assessed differently by the warring parties. For the Hellenes, it became the first victory over the army of the Achaemenid Empire. For the Persians, the defeat of their army did not have great consequences. Their state was at the peak of its power and possessed enormous resources. After this unsuccessful expedition, Darius began to gather a huge army to conquer all of Greece. His plans were thwarted by an uprising in Egypt in 486 BC. e. Darius died that same year. Xerxes took his throne. Having suppressed the Egyptian uprising, the young king continued preparations for the campaign against Greece.

Over the 10 years that passed from the battle of Marathon to the new Persian invasion of Hellas, one of the participants in the battle, Themistocles, carried out a number of reforms to create a powerful fleet in Athens. It was his actions that subsequently led to the complete defeat of Xerxes' army.

Legends

Several legends are associated with the Battle of Marathon. According to one of them, which has come down to us from Herodotus’s “History,” the Athenians sent a certain messenger Pheidippides to Sparta so that he would hasten the Lacedaemonians to set out on a campaign. On the way, the god Pan appeared to him and said that he favored the inhabitants of Athens, who neglected him, and would come to his aid. According to legend, God kept his promise, after which sacrifices began to be made to him every year. The legend may have a symbolic character, since the word “panic”, which Pan instilled upon his appearance, comes from the name of this mythological character. The resulting panic among the Persian troops was one of the important factors in the victory of the Hellenes.

According to another legend, the legendary hero Theseus took part in the battle. In his description of the portico on the Athenian acropolis - a painted stoa - Pausanias talks about the depiction of other patron gods of the city in the painting dedicated to the battle. Thus, the Greeks attributed the share of victory in such an important battle to the gods.

Another unreliable historical legend gave its name to the sports discipline - marathon running (running 42 km 195 m). According to Plutarch, who wrote his works more than 500 years after the events described, Miltiades sent a messenger Eucles to Athens with the news of the victory. Having run about 40 kilometers to the city immediately after the battle, the walker shouted “Rejoice, Athenians, we have won!” and died. Lucian transforms the name of Plutarch's messenger Euclus into Herodotus' Pheidippides. Pheidippides, indicated by Herodotus, would have to run several hundred kilometers (the distance from Marathon to Sparta, from there back with a message to Marathon, participate in the battle, and then with all the Greeks return quickly to Athens - about 500 km). Since not just one person, but an entire army was heading to Athens, the legend does not stand up to criticism. Considering the obvious historical unreliability of the Pheidippides marathon, since 1983 a group of enthusiasts has annually organized a Spartathlon - a 246 km run between Athens and Sparta.

BATTLE OF MARATHON, occurred on September 13, 490 BC. e. during the Greco-Persian wars 500-449 BC. e. near the village of Marathon (40 km northeast of Athens). The Athenian strategist Miltiades formed the Greek army (11 thousand people) into a phalanx at the entrance to the Marathon plain. The Greek phalanx, strongly stretched along the front (about 1 km), with a shallow center, was covered on the flanks by wooded spurs of mountains and abatis placed forward, which protected them from being outflanked by the Persian cavalry. In addition, the flanks were reinforced with selected troops. The Greeks attacked the Persians who had landed from the ships (about 20 thousand people), but were counterattacked by Persian foot archers, who broke through the weak center of the Greek phalanx and forced the Greeks to retreat. Meanwhile, strong flanking detachments of the Greeks launched an attack on the Persian cavalry and light infantry and defeated them, and then, closing their flanks, defeated the Persian foot archers. Since the Greeks did not intercept the escape route of the fleeing Persians, the latter boarded ships and sailed to sea, leaving (according to Herodotus) up to 6,400 people killed on the battlefield. The Greeks lost 192 people killed. At the Battle of Marathon, Greek hoplites, operating in phalanx formation, defeated the larger, but less organized and trained Persian army. The Battle of Marathon is the first major victory of the Greeks over the Persians; it not only eliminated the threat of the second Persian campaign, but was also of great importance for the entire course of the Greco-Persian wars. The Battle of Marathon played an important role in the subsequent unification of the democrats. forces in Athens, in strengthening the political and military union of the Greek city-states.

Materials from the Soviet Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes, volume 5: Adaptive Radio Communication Line - Object Air Defense were used. 688 pp., 1978.

Marathon

MARATHON (Maraton) is an ancient Greek settlement located on the plain of the same name in Attica (40 km from Athens). Nearby September 13, 490 BC. one of the largest battles of the period took place Greco-Persian wars. The Greek army (according to tradition, 10 thousand Athenians and 1000 Plataeans) was formed by the strategist Miltiades at the entrance to the Marathon valley in a phalanx. The flanks of the Greek phalanx, strongly extended along the front, with a shallow center, were covered by wooded spurs of mountains and abatis placed forward and reinforced by lightly armed detachments. Having attacked the Persians, the Greeks began to run in order to strengthen the blow and avoid heavy losses from Persian arrows, but selected Persian troops managed to break through the Greek phalanx in the center and force it to retreat. The outcome of the battle was decided by the actions of the flanks, which squeezed the Persian army and put it to flight. The Battle of Marathon is the first major victory of the Greeks over the Persians; it not only eliminated the threat of the second Persian campaign, but was of great importance for the entire course of the Greco-Persian War.

Soviet historical encyclopedia. In 16 volumes. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1973-1982. Volume 9. MALTA - NAKHIMOV. 1966.

Sources: Herod., VI, 107-117.

Literature: Engels F., Izbr. military works, M., 1958, p. 138-40; Razin E. A., History of military art, vol. 1, M., 1955.

Marathon Battle

In 491 BC. Darius sent an embassy to Greece, demanding submission from the Greeks. Some Greek city-states recognized the power of the Persians, but the Spartans and Athenians refused to do so and killed the Persian ambassadors.

In 490 there was a new Persian campaign. This time they decided to transport their army through the southern part of the Aegean Sea and land troops immediately in Central Greece. Having captured and destroyed the city of Eretria on the island of Euboea, the Persian army, consisting of archers and horsemen, landed in the northeastern part of Attica, on the Marathon plain near the small town of Marathon, 42 km from Athens.

The battlefield was a flat valley surrounded by mountains on the seashore, convenient for the Persian cavalry.

The Persians had 10 thousand cavalry and about 10 thousand foot archers. The Greeks had 11 thousand Athenian hoplites. Numerical superiority was on the side of the Persians, qualitative superiority on the side of the Greeks. The hoplites, trained and welded together by military discipline, faced a multi-tribal Persian army, the majority of whom were alien to the purpose of the campaign.

The Greek army consisted of heavily armed infantry, hoplites, with copper helmets, armor and legguards, with large copper shields; their weapon was a long throwing spear. The Persian infantry was lightly armed, without helmets or armor, and was protected by light and wicker shields; Her main weapons were a bow and a saber.

The Greeks were commanded by ten strategists: one of them, Miltiades, was well acquainted with the methods of action of the Persian army.

Before the battle, Miltiades formed the Greek phalanx at the entrance to the Marathon Valley. On the right flank were the best Athenian hoplites, the rest of the warriors lined up to the left according to the phyla; the left flank consisted of a detachment of Plataeans.

The right wing was led by Callemarchus, the left flank was commanded by the brave Aemnest.

Due to the numerical superiority of the Persians and the considerable width of the valley, Miltiades could not give his phalanx the necessary depth. In addition, he took into account the possibility of his flanks being covered by Persian cavalry. Therefore, he reduced the number of ranks in the center and accordingly increased the number of ranks on the flanks. The total length of the front reached approximately 1 km.

The Persian battle formation consisted of foot archers located in the center and cavalry lined up on the flanks.

In order to not give the Persian cavalry time to attack the Greeks on the plain and to immediately move on to hand-to-hand combat after archery, Miltiades moved from the heights towards the enemy in a “running march”. The “Running March” made it possible to quickly overcome the space hit by arrows and had a moral effect on the enemy.

Having withstood the initial onslaught, the Persian archers counterattacked the Greeks, broke through the weak center of the Athenian phalanx and pursued the Athenians deep into the valley.

But the strong flanks of the Greek phalanx overthrew the Persian cavalry, which failed to break through the ranks of the Athenians here, and went against the Persian center, rushing to the aid of their constrained comrades. The consequence of this attack was the defeat of the Persian archers. Surrounded on all sides, the Persians fled.

In the Battle of Marathon, the Greeks gave the first rebuff to the Persians. This battle showed that heavily armed, well-trained infantry was not afraid of irregular cavalry.

At the site of the battle on the Marathon field, next to the mass grave of soldiers who died for their homeland, a monument was erected in honor of the Greek leader Miltiades.

Scenes from the Marathon battle were depicted in one of the porticoes located in the main square of Athens.

Materials used from the site http://100top.ru/encyclopedia/

Read further:

Greco-Persian Wars (selection of articles).

Major events of the 5th century BC.

(chronological table).

Bickerman E. Chronology of the ancient world. The Middle East and Antiquity.

Publishing house "Science", Main editorial office of oriental literature, Moscow, 1975.

Literature:

Razin E. A. History of military art. T. 1. M.. 1955, p. 149-152;

Mering F. Essays on the history of wars and military art. Per. with him. Ed.

6th. M., 1956, p. 26-34.

Great battles. 100 battles that changed the course of history Domanin Alexander Anatolyevich

As soon as the news was received that the Persians had landed on the Marathon plain, the Athenians hastily sent a speedboat to ask the Spartans for help. However, the Spartans hesitated, and the nine- or ten-thousand Athenian militia was supported only by a thousand soldiers from the neighboring town of Plataea. The Athenians were commanded by ten strategists, who changed according to custom every day, but in extreme circumstances all the strategists renounced their rights in favor of Miltiades, as the most experienced and best-versed in Persian military formations.

Miltiades set out on a campaign and led the Athenian army into the Fransian valley, connected by a rather narrow passage to the more extensive Marathon plain. This small valley had direct communication with Athens through the mountains. Here, in the Fransian Valley, not far from its exit onto the plain of Marathon, where the mountains still provided both flanks with cover, which was also strengthened by cutting down trees, he formed his army in such a way or ordered it to camp in such a way that at the first news about the approach of the enemy, it could line up in battle formation. Since the valley, despite the artificial barrier, was still too wide, Miltiades was unable to give his phalanx the desired depth, and therefore he weakened the center and strengthened both flanks so that they could, even emerging from behind cover, exert powerful pressure on the Persian cavalry in the event of a flank attack.

The position of the Greeks, by the way, debunks the well-known legend that the Athenians attacked first. From the point of view of military art, this is nonsense. Leaving a well-prepared position and attacking a noticeably outnumbered enemy in an open field, with the danger of flanking - only an exceptionally mediocre commander could do this. Miltiades was clearly not one of them. The formation he created precisely assumed a Persian attack in the center, followed by flank attacks by the Greeks against the Persian cavalry - a scheme similar to the classic Battle of Cannes. And it can be assumed that the Battle of Marathon began precisely with the attack of the Persians.

Miltiades formed the Greek phalanx at the entrance to the Marathon Valley. On the right flank were the best Athenian hoplites, the rest of the warriors lined up to the left according to the phyla; the left flank consisted of a detachment of Plataeans. The right wing was led by Callimachus, the left flank was commanded by Aemnest.

So, the battle began, apparently, with a Persian attack. On both flanks the enemy was repulsed by the Athenians and Plataeans, but in the center the advantage was on the side of the Persians. After this, Miltiades gives the signal to attack with a rapid march, in order to reduce the impact of the shooting of experienced Persian archers. A quick march made it possible to quickly overcome the space hit by arrows and had a moral impact on the enemy.

As a result of this blow, the strong flanks of the Greek phalanx overthrew the Persian cavalry, which failed to break through the ranks of the Athenians here, and went against the Persian center, rushing to the aid of their comrades cramped in the center. The consequence of this attack was the complete defeat of the Persian archers. Surrounded on three sides, the Persian soldiers fled. The Persians fled to the camp and began to hastily board the ships; the Greeks chased after them and, after a fight on the shore, captured seven ships. On the remaining ships, the Persians set sail, trying to reach Athens before the Greeks did. The Athenians also rushed to their hometown and managed to get ahead of the enemy. Miltiades stationed his army on the eastern side of Athens. The Persians, approaching Phaler in their ships (Phaler was then the harbor of the Athenians) and seeing that the Athenian army was standing near the city and ready for battle, did not dare to land. The Persian fleet turned back and sailed back to Asia.

In the Battle of Marathon, the Greeks gave the first rebuff to the Persians. This battle showed that heavily armed, well-trained infantry was not afraid of irregular cavalry. At the site of the battle on the Marathon Plain, next to the mass grave of soldiers who died for their homeland, a monument was erected in honor of the outstanding victory.

Thus ended the first Persian campaign against Hellas. For the Athenians, the victory cost the death of one hundred and ninety-two people, including the polemarch Callimachus and the brother of the tragic Aeschylus, Kinegir; Herodotus estimates the Persian losses at approximately six thousand four hundred people (most likely this is an exaggeration). This was the first victory of the Hellenes over the Persians; its immediate consequences were the strengthening of Athenian democracy and the readiness of the Hellenes to measure their strength with the powerful Persian power in the future: without Marathon, Salamis and Plataea would hardly have been possible.

One well-known legend is associated with the Battle of Marathon. It says that a Greek warrior named Pheidippides (according to other sources - Philippides) in 490 BC. e. after the battle of Marathon, he ran without stopping from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Greeks. Having reached the city, he managed to shout: “Rejoice, Athenians, we have won!” - and died. This legend is not confirmed by ancient sources; according to Herodotus, Pheidippides was a messenger unsuccessfully sent for reinforcements from Athens to Sparta and covering a distance of two hundred and thirty kilometers in less than two days. The legend that he ran from Marathon to Athens was invented by later authors and appeared in Plutarch's Ethics in the 1st century AD, more than five hundred and fifty years after the actual events. Already in modern times, the International Olympic Committee in 1896 estimated the actual length of the straight line distance from the battlefield in Marathon to Athens at thirty-four and a half kilometers. At the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 (and also at the 2004 Games), the marathon race actually took place along a distance laid out from Marathon to Athens. Later, the path was calculated again, taking into account real obstacles, and the marathon took on its classic form - a distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters. Today, dozens of competitions are held annually in the world in this very specific and interesting form of athletics.

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Battle of Marathon - September 12, 490 BC. e. In the southern part of the Marathon plain, eight hundred meters from the sea, a hill rises - the common grave of the Athenians who fell in the legendary battle. All names are clearly inscribed on 10 tombstones. It was not difficult to do this - in the decisive battle with the Persians, the Greeks lost less than two hundred people.

If their opponents had decided to create such a memorial, they would have had to carve 6,500 names on the stone! The number of losses was so unequal that for this alone the Battle of Marathon can be considered one of the most extraordinary in world history.

But the Persians were so sure of the defeat of the Greeks! They loaded 600 triremes with 10,000 infantry and the same number of cavalry and horses. The fleet crossed the Aegean Sea without incident. One of the ships carried a huge block of marble - the Persians wanted to build a monument from it in honor of their victory...

By that time, the Persian power was able to subjugate a vast territory. Including the cities of Asia Minor (present-day Türkiye), inhabited by Greeks. And wow, their rebellious residents had the audacity to rebel! Moreover, the Athenians sent reinforcements to help the rebels. Of course, the Persians suppressed the uprising. But they did not forget about the treachery of the Athenians.

And now war has been declared on Greece. The first trip was unsuccessful. The Persian ships were caught in a storm, and the foot army suffered losses. But King Darius began to prepare for his second coming. True, just in case, he sent ambassadors to the Greek policies - demanding submission. Some agreed to recognize the power of the Persians, but the Athenians flatly refused...

Well, the challenge was accepted. And now the Persian troops landed near the town of Marathon on a small plain surrounded by mountains and the sea. There is only one day's march to Athens - the first blow of the conquerors was supposed to fall on this city...

The place for the battle was chosen on the advice of Hippias, the former Athenian tyrant, expelled from his native land 20 years earlier. Intelligence reported that no one was guarding the plain. Even if the patrol service informs the city about the enemy's landing, at least eight hours will pass before the army reaches Marathon. The Persians will meet them in full combat readiness! In Athens they hesitated - to give the enemy battle or allow a siege?

The majority opinion is a battle. The Athenian commander Miltiades, who knew their tactics well, hurried to meet the Persians. In the open, the Persian horsemen would easily attack the Athenians from both flanks, while the archers showered her front with arrows. This means that the task is to prevent a battle on the plain.

The closed formation blocked a kilometer-long gorge between the mountain slopes. The Athenians numbered approximately 10,000 - half the number of the Persian army. But - there is nowhere to retreat, Athena is behind!.. And they began to prepare for defense.

It all started near the Athens road at the exit of the valley. Greek hoplites - warriors with heavy spears, swords and shields - lined up in a phalanx. However, the valley was still too wide. And Miltiades deliberately weakened the center, strengthening both flanks so that they could provide adequate resistance to the Persian cavalry. The most dexterous and brave were sent to the mountains so that they would hinder the enemy’s approach, showering them with arrows, stones and darts from above.

Miltiades gave the order to cut down the trees that generously covered the mountains. Ahead of the right and left flanks, abatis were set up, in which light infantry took refuge - warriors with bows, darts and slings. By taking this position, Miltiades deprived the Persians of their main trump card - cavalry attacks on the flanks. To do this, the horses would have to make their way along slopes and rubble under arrow fire. The cavalry could not strike from the front either: the infantry could barely fit in the narrow place!

Like in a fairy tale, they stood opposite each other for three days and three nights. The Greeks did not at all want to change their advantageous position, and besides, they sent a messenger to the Spartans for reinforcements. The Persians tried in vain to lure the enemy onto the plain. And, in the end, they decided, without waiting for the Spartans, to launch an offensive.

Miltiades let the enemy closer - a hundred paces. Everything was based on the exact choice of the moment of attack. A swing of the sword - and the hoplite phalanx rushed forward - not at a walk, but practically at a run. The running had a triple purpose: to increase pressure, to demoralize the enemy and to escape from the arrows. And arrows rained down on the Greek army! The Persians, seeing the Greeks approaching with alarming speed, actually stopped. And the flanking Greek detachments struck them unhindered, squeezing the Persians into a deadly pincer.

Of course, when deciding on such a high-speed attack, the Athenian commander took a great risk. The run could upset the ranks of his own warriors. Yes, both slingers and javelin throwers could not keep up with the formation, and therefore could not provide fire support to it. However, the calculation paid off! For some time, the Ionians, frozen like idols, could not withstand the ramming blow and rushed to their heels. They rushed towards the ships, with the Greeks hot on their heels. Anyone who hesitated immediately fell to the ground, pierced by a spear...

In his “Notes” he cited a similar incident in the battle of Pharsal. Then Pompey's soldiers, standing still, took the blow of the Caesarians. The pressure of the soldiers simply overturned and crushed the most powerful army! This is the inevitable fate of troops standing still during a conflict - so said Caesar, and he knew what he was saying.

In the heat of battle, the Persian commander Datis suddenly found himself cut off from the ships. What was left for him? Stop your warriors, turn around and attack again. But now the hated Hellenes are confident of their advantage. They are very close, and the vaunted Persian throwing weapons remained somewhere on the battlefield... The field fortification was also captured by the enemy. And behind us the battered but not exterminated central phyla gather again...

We must attack the enemy at all costs and break through to the ships! The Greeks rushed forward, but either the swampy river prevented them, or the Persians were stronger in hand-to-hand combat... One way or another, the Persian cavalry cut through the Athenian hoplites and cleared the way for the infantry.

By that time, some of the Persians had already set sail from the shore. The Athenian slaves who were pursuing them rushed to plunder the enemy camp. Following them, the Persian cavalry burst into the camp and also began to load onto the ships. The maddened horses resisted, and the horsemen delayed so much that both the infantry and the phalangites of Miltiades were able to catch up with them.

A fierce battle in shallow waters, in which two Athenian strategists and a polemarch died... And now the remnants of the vaunted Persian army are on the open sea. The Athenians captured 7 triremes (the rowers and crews accounted for a considerable part of the Persian losses). They saw off the fleeing enemy with warlike cries. A messenger was immediately sent to Athens with the good news. He flew like an arrow along the paths and steep slopes. Victory, victory!.. - the heart rate increased. He rushes without even taking off his armor. When he reached Athens, he shouted; "Rejoice, we won!" - and then, lifeless, he collapsed to the ground.

From Marathon to Athens 42 km and 195 m. In memory of the warrior who passed on the good news at the cost of his life, athletes began to call this distance marathon. But this is a story from our time. And then, having barely recovered from the heat of the battle, Datis did not consider it lost at all. The Persians set out on ships for Athens, convinced that there were no troops in the city. But Miltiades also received a message from Athens - the Persian fleet is heading towards the city!

And the Athenians, exhausted by the battle, the seven-kilometer forced march through the swamp and the battle for the ships, performed a real miracle. They walked forty kilometers at a fast, almost marching pace. And so, when the Persian fleet approached the harbor, Datis, to his horror, saw on the shore the same army with which he had been fighting since the morning! Of course, the battered Persians did not land in front of the enemy. After staying a little near Athens, they sailed back.

How was the small Greek army able to defeat the seemingly invincible Persian formations? The merit of Miltiades is undoubted, who managed to take a position advantageous in all respects. To this day, Marathon reminds the military of the art of placing troops on the ground so that it itself increases their strength.

The difference in weapons during the Battle of Marathon also had an impact: the Athenians were heavy and well-protected infantry, while the main weapon of the Persians was the bow. The wicker shield that the shooter put in front of him did not save him from the almost 2-meter spears of the Greeks. “They go into battle in hats and trousers,” - this is how Aristagoras described the motley Persian warriors, recruited from the inhabitants of many conquered countries. However, the strength of the phalanx is not only in courage and weapons. She is united and united. The dexterity and courage of each warrior are compressed into “one thundering fist.”

The difference between the troops of both sides is best shown in the Greek legend about the conversation between the Persian king Xerxes and the exiled Spartan ruler Demaratus. The great king boasts that among his bodyguards there is more than one person who is ready to compete with three Hellenes at once. Demaratus argues that this is useless. Of course, the Spartans are no more brave than other people, but their true strength lies in unity. The law commands them, without leaving the ranks, to win together or die together...

It should be noted that on the day of the Battle of Marathon, the Spartans did not come to the aid of their brothers. They answered the messenger that they could not go to war during the religious holiday of Karneya, which would end by the next full moon. The fast walker went back and along the road, according to legend, met none other than the god Pan. He, unlike the allies, offered his help to the Athenians. He promised to sow confusion in the ranks of the enemy - and brilliantly fulfilled his promise. And at the same time he gave us the word “panic”.

By the way, the generally accepted date for the Battle of Marathon is September 12, 490 BC. e. It was calculated in the 19th century by August Beck based on the notes of Herodotus. It was the Karneia holiday that became the basis for the scientist’s calculations. But Bekh took the Athenian calendar as a basis. But Donald Olson from the University of Texas at one time considered this a mistake. Carneia is a Spartan holiday, and therefore it must be tied to the Spartan calendar. The Athenian year began with the new moon after the summer solstice, and the Spartan year began with the first full moon after the autumn equinox.

Olson and his colleagues calculated that between the autumn equinox and the summer solstice in 491 - 490 there were 10 new moons - one more than usual. Therefore, that year the Spartan calendar was one month ahead of the Athenian calendar. This may mean that the Battle of Marathon actually took place on 12 August. This means that it was the summer heat that could have caused the legendary messenger to overheat, which probably caused his sudden death.

P.S. What about the piece of marble brought by the self-confident Persians? He remained lying on the battlefield of Marathon. After many wanderings, the beautiful stone ended up in the workshop of the Greek sculptor Phidias, and the Athenians ordered an image of the goddess of love Aphrodite to be made from it to decorate the city garden. The most worthy of Phidias' students, Agorakritos of Pharos, created this beautiful work of art from trophy marble.