The Athenian general Miltiades (the Younger) is often credited with devising the tactics that defeated the Persians at Marathon.
When the Persians landed there, the Athenians were faced with the choice of marching out and confronting them there or waiting for them at Athens. Miltiades knew that the Persian cavalry, once out on the open plain, would wreak havoc.
The Spartans had agreed to lend their support, but only six days later (at the conclusion of a religious festival). Miltiades persuaded the supreme Athenian commander, Callimachus, that immediate action was necessary. He chose to attack at a time when the Persion army was "nonoperational" (for some unknown reason – according to Britannica). Charging a mile across the Marathon plain, Miltiades's forces engaged the Persian infantry, killing some 6,400 men (and capturing 7 ships) at a cost of only 192 Athenian lives. The rest of the Persian force quickly embarked and put out to sea.
In the spring of 489 BC, Miltiades set out with a fleet of 70 ships to conquer those islands that had supposedly sided with Persia. His mission was not a success, and on his return to Athens there was an outcry of indignation – ably exploited by his rivals the Alcmaeonids. Miltiades, dying of gangrene from a leg wound, was fined 50 talents, although the death penalty had been demanded. He probably died, in prison, soon afterwards.
© Haydn Thompson 2024