Download Miltiades and Leonidas - essay plan

Assess the contribution of Miltiades and Leonidas to the course of the
Persian Wars.
Miltiades played a crucial role in the Greek victory in the First Persian War, both politically
and militarily. Leonidas’ role in the Second Persian War was also important, however it was
far more symbolic than strategic.
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When Darius’ army reached Greece in 490 BC, it massively outnumbered the Greeks.
Miltiades used his political skill to persuasive the Athenian Assembly to face the
invaders at Marathon rather than further south.
He had fought with the Persians in Thrace, so he knew that they relied on their cavalry.
As such he deployed his forces in the hills, where the cavalry could not be used.
Neither side wanted to attack first. Finally, Miltiades did so – almost certainly because
the Persian cavalry were absent from the field, though we don’t know why.
Miltiades ordered that the Greek centre be weakened and the flanks reinforced. He
then directed his troops to run towards the Persians, to so few would be hit by arrows.
As the battle raged, Miltiades ordered his flanks to close in on the Persians, trapping
them. Many of the Persians broke and ran. Some drowned in the nearby swamp; the
rest were cut to pieces by the Greeks.
Although the Persians sailed on to Athens, Miltiades’ men got there first, so the Persians
retreated. The First Persian War was over, thanks largely to the leadership of Miltiades.
Leonidas’ contribution to the Greek victory in the Second Persian War was nowhere
near as significant as Miltiades’ in the First, but was still important. It was he who chose
to face the Persians at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, believing it would nullify their
numerical advantage and prevent them from using their cavalry.
The one weakness he faced was a shepherd’s path through the hills, so he sent a small
force to defend it.
When the Persians reached Thermopylae, Xerxes ordered his troops to attack.
For two days the Persian infantry was repulsed by Leonidas’ force. Then a Greek traitor
told them about the shepherd’s pass, and they used it to outflank the Greeks.
Realising the battle was lost, Leonidas ordered the bulk of his army to retreat. Then he
made a heroic last stand, fighting to the death with his 300 men.
The Battle of Thermopylae was a military victory for the Persians, but Leonidas’ sacrifice
inspired the Greeks. Without it, more Greek states might have surrendered to Xerxes.
Hence it can be seen that both Miltiades and Leonidas played crucial roles in the two wars
with Persia – Miltiades as a general who plotted victory, Leonidas as an inspirational leader
in defeat. Without either man, the outcome of those conflicts might have been different.