Battle Analysis: Battle of Thermopylae
Mr. Calvin D Chapple Sr
SLC, NCOA Fort Huachuca, AZ
Introduction Thesis to the Battle of Thermopylae
The study of history is an attempt to avoid repetition. The attack of the Persians on the Greeks at Thermopylae was one of these most influential and motivating Greek battles in history. However, King Leonidas I with better planning, more Spartan soldiers, and stronger defensive forces protecting such a vital rear passage around the mountain could have avoided the high casualty loss.
Spartans –vs- Persians Battle Stance Settings
The Battle of Thermopylae, dated back to approximately 11 August 480 B.C.E., compromised of soldiers from Greek Cities and three hundred Spartan
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warriors led by King Leonidas I of Sparta. Although the overall plan that King Leonidas plan had failed, its representation succeeded and promoted high moral amongst the Greeks in many ways. The ideal plan was to hold King Xerxes ground attack while simultaneously block and hold the Persian Navy sea invasion. King Xerxes I and his generals led the Persian attack on land and sea. His plan was to dominate Greece and Athens. The weather conditions during the end of summer consisted of the stormy rainy season. The terrain consisted of the coastal line; the shore of the Gulf of Malis, a narrow path that only one chariot could travel thru. On the path was a series of three constrictions/corridors (gates-pylai). These passages, known as the “Hot Gates”, were the overall protection of the land. In addition, a pathway leads around the mountain that was the Persians best military maneuver to out flank the Greeks. The Persian army Fleet Crew had (517,610), Infantry had (1,700,000), Cavalry had (80,000), Arabs and Libyans had (20,000), Greek puppet troops had (324,000) for a total that was (2, 641, 610). This was not including the Persian support troops and support personnel. The approximate total Persian military was (2,641,610). The Greek army lead by King Leonidas had (300) Spartans, (500) Mantinea’s, (500) Tegean’s, (120) Arcadian Orchomenos, (1000) other Arcadians, (400) Corinthians, (200) Philians, (80) Mycenaean’s, (700) Thespians, (400) Thebans, (1000) Phocians, and (?) of Oputian Locrians. The approximate total Greek army was (5200+). This gave the advantage to the Persian army by far. The weaponry consisted of shields, archery equipment, short swords, and spears for the Persian army. The Greeks weaponry consisted of short swords, long spears, and shields. This was simple but highly effective. The Persian army consisted of many different types of warriors, but the Immortals were the ones with the most recognition. The immortal doctrine and training on battle techniques gave favoritism with King Xerxes. Born and bred to fight was the Spartan way of life. In addition, King Xerxes had been planning for four years to battle with the Greeks. Plenty of time to collect a stock pile of weapons. However, King Xerxes failed in the intelligence of understanding the Greeks, specifically the Spartans. The Spartans trained yearly. The Spartans had become very proficient in the frontal attack defense and offensive stance. Weapon of choice for the Spartans was the long spear, short sword, and support shield. The Persians failure in intelligence collection brought on frustration and low morale. King Leonidas battle techniques proved later to give the Greeks the motivation needed to defeat the Persians. King Xerxes command control and communication style helped motivate his army to continue to press forward pass King Leonidas three hundred Spartan warriors with the help of some key intelligence about the terrain. King Leonidas failure to produce more troops proved to be his fatal end. A Greek spy, Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks and gave King Xerxes intelligence, about the layout of the land, of a small mountain path located on the other side of the mountain that he could use to flank King Leonidas and thus giving them victory at the gate. Had it not been for that Greek spy, Ephialtes telling the Persians of the path on the backside of the mountain, King Leonidas might have survived several more days in time for back up from the Navy vessels or even more, the remainder of the Spartan army. King Leonidas mission was to hold the Persian forces at the gates for as long as they possibly could to give the Navy time to Block the Persian forces in the canal and to provide time for Athens to vacate. Leonidas did not count on the Persian army to be so vast. More soldiers that are Spartan were needed to help secure the passage and the corridor. Persian forces mission was to conquer the land and enslave all those remaining. Four years of planning went into this attack. The Persians outnumbered the Greeks approximately 500:1. Persians planned on collateral lost with the ground troops and naval ships that included the journey. The Persians still had many more soldiers to fight with in the battle. The Battle: Greeks and 300 Spartans Defeated at Thermopylae The Spartan efforts at the battle of Thermopylae has been used throughout history as an example of how equipment, training, and the use of terrain features can maximize an army's potential outcome, as well as a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.
Persian forces sent scouts to observe the Greek army and offer one last chance of surrendering. When that offer came back refused, King Xerxes sent wave after wave of attacks up the narrow path to their demise. King Leonidas Spartan fighting and defensive techniques proved superior during the first two days of the battle conquering many Persian armies’, as 10,000 troops per wave charged the hill. Even when the Persian King sent his best warriors to charge the path along the coast, only to be disappointed by the defeat of King Leonidas and his Spartan army. Persian King was so angry that he commanded his archers to rain arrows on the Greeks as well as his own Persians who were fighting at the time. With the Persian king continuously sending wave after wave of soldiers attacking the Gates, frustration quickly became apparent because of the null penetration he was receiving. It was not until a Greek betrayer by the name of Ephialtes assisted the Persians in return for profit. This ended with the Persian army circling the Greeks thus outflanking them and eventually defeating the Greeks. Convinced that he could succeed where his father failed, military council persuaded King Xerxes, to invade Greece and destroy Athens. King Xerxes started losing soldiers before the battle even took place. Not having enough intelligence on the Spartan fighting skills proved costly to the Persians army. Not having the knowledge of the layout of the land cost them tens of thousands of men. Finally, not having a weather scholar to help with the change in weather, cost King Xerxes many ships in the
storms. King Leonidas, great as he was, could have prevented the Persians from every crossing the battle front line with better planning. King Leonidas could have ordered more Spartan soldiers to go with him. Consideration and more emphasis on the rear passage should have had more focus and protection. Conclusion (Greeks and 300 Spartans Win at Thermopylae) As stated in the beginning of my paper that the study of history is an attempt to avoid repetition. The attack of the Persians on the Greeks at Thermopylae was one of these most influential and motivating Greek battles in history. Better battlefront planning from King Leonidas would have changed the outcome of the battle. That is to set out the mission with more Spartan soldiers. This shows a stronger defensive forces protecting such a vital path that was in there rear. With More soldiers, set up watch points to incorporate an early detections system. This way, he would have stopped the rear flank of the Persians and continued the fight. What if King Leonidas order to have twenty-five percent of his army walk with him and the other remainder stayed back to protect the city of any invasions. This idea would sustain the planning phase, more Spartan soldiers, and stronger protection for the mountain pass for King Leonidas. He might have reached great battle success with the twenty-five percent (Approximately five thousand Spartans) of his soldiers and would have driven the Persian back to their ships. Thus possibly ending the Persian invasion and saving many lives. References Battle of Thermopylae. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ancientgreekbattles.net/Pages/48070_BattleOfThermopylae.htm Battle of Thermopylae - New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Battle_of_Thermopylae Battle of Thermopylae This is SPARTA! History Channel Documentary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukhc5SV2mb4 The Battle of Thermopylae. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/thermopylae.html Iran Chamber Society: History of Iran: The Persian Wars. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/persian_wars5.php King Leonidas of Sparta and the Battle at Thermopylae. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/people/g/leonidas.htm Persian Battle of Thermopylae Summary (300 Movie). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/weaponswar/p/blpwtherm.htm
The Battle of Thermopylae was the first between the Greeks and Persians during the Persian invasion of 480 – 479BC. The Greek force was very small compared to the Persians but was determined to make a stand against the huge army of 300,000 Persians suggested by modern historians compared to Herodotus account of the army consisting of 1700 000 men. The Greeks chose to defend a narrow pass, or gap, between the mountains of central Greece and the sea, called Thermopylae.
The Role of Themistocles in the Greek Defeat of the Persians in 480 - 479 BC.
(http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/text?lookup-trm+ov+8.5&vers=engligh&browse+1). In conclusion, the Greeks defeated the Persians in the Persian Wars aided by unforgettable acts of heroism, divine support, and most importantly, Greek unity.
In conclusion, multiple factors led to the failure of Xerxes’ expedition into Greece. According to Herodotus, Xerxes failed due to his personal hubris, fear, and general ineptitude. He further believed that it was God’s decree. More pragmatic reasons would include strategy; the Persian’s plans were generally sound – the Greeks, with the genius of Themistocles, just did one better. Timing was also a factor – winter came on all too soon. Key to all of this was the war of morale – one which the Greeks decisively won. Luck, too, played its part, but it was relative incompetence of the Persian troops which was the crux of the matter. The failure of the infantry was the cause of the final disintegration of the campaign. Xerxes’ personal failures and errors of judgment were an accelerant towards this end. First and foremost, he was let down by his men.
Although the Spartans and Athenians fought for almost 20 years, there was a time when they lived in harmony. Almost 15 years before any disturbances the Athenians and Spartans fought together in the Persian war. During the Persian war, the Spartans were thriving in their fight against the Persians, however over time the Persians began to grow stronger. After being to lose their fighting streak, the Athenians came in to help the Spartans and bring an end to Persian dominance once and for all (The Delian League, 1). After defeating the Persians in 449 B.C., the...
When the Persian fleet had arrived at Aphetae, Eurybides, the commander of the small amount of ships that Sparta had sent, wished to turn tail, and return home. Themistocles used bribe of thirty talents to keep him, and his ships at the front. (Herodotus, 1954) Themistocles, seeing the overwhelming navy of the Persians conducted a plan: When the fighting broke out, the highly-trained Greeks would allow themselves to become encircled. At the first blow of the signal horn, the triremes would form a ‘close circle – bows outward, sterns to the centre.’ From this position, they had no mobility; the only direction in which they could move was forward, and that is exactly what they did. On the second signal blast, these lighter and faster Greek triremes rammed the Persian ships, and with their bronze-sheathed battering rams on the bow of the ships, caused great damage to the enemy ships. (Herodotus, 1954) Another tactic that Themistocles used was his discussion to initiate the battle in the mid to late afternoon. One cannot fight at sea when dark, and he knew that; making sure that this was done minimised casualties for the Greeks and tired out the Persian men, who had been ready to begin fighting since the very early morning. Overall, this decision made sure the battle had a fast conclusion. When they got word of the massacre at Thermopylae, however, Themistocles called a retreat, as they were only holding the pass to prevent Xerxes using his navy to assist his men at Thermopylae, and at this moment in time, there were no men at Thermopylae that were worth protecting, anymore. (Last Stand of the 300,
The battle of Thermopylae was the Greek’s first stand against the massive army of King Xerxes, and was the most influential battle of the entire war. Up to this point, the Persian army was seen as too massive and powerful to be stopped. The once warring city-states of Greece knew they couldn’t stand against the Persians alone, and knew in order to defend their homeland they would have to unite. A unity of command was agreed upon; King Leonidas of Sparta was chosen to lead the Greek forces. He was chosen to lead because of the unsurpassed warring abilities the Spartans were so well known for made him perfect for the objective of stopping the Persians.
In 480 BC the Persian Empire was once again trying to invade ancient Greece. Under the reign of King Xerxes, an invincible army of a recorded 2 million was marching downwards to enslave all Greeks. An elite force of three hundred Spartans tackled the suicide mission of stalling the Persian wave of doom.
There are times in history that something will happen and it will defy all logic. It was one of those times when a few Greek city/states joined together and defeated the invasion force of the massive Persian Empire. The Greeks were able to win the Greco-Persian War because of their naval victories over the Persians, a few key strategic victories on land, as well as the cause for which they were fighting. The naval victories were the most important contribution to the overall success against the Persians. The Persian fleet was protecting the land forces from being outflanked and after they were defeated the longer had that protection. While the Greeks had very few overall victories in battle they did have some strategic victories. The Battle of Thermopylae is an example of a strategic success for the Greeks. The morale of the Persian army was extremely affected by the stout resistance put up by King Leonidas and his fellow Spartans. The Greeks fought so hard against overwhelming odds because of what they were fighting for. They were fighting for their country and their freedom. They fought so hard because they did not want to let down the man next to them in the formation. Several things contributed to the Greeks success against the Persian invasion that happened during the Second Greco-Persian War.
After the Battle of Artemisium, the Greek fled to the Isle of Salamis. This created problems for the Persians. With the Greeks being so close, their port was limited which meant they could not supply their army that was heading to Isthmus of Corinth. Xerxes calls in his naval commanders and asks for guidance on whether to go to battle at sea to remove the Greeks from the Isle of Salamis. All were in favor of the naval battle besides Artemisia. She advised Xerxes to spare his ships and not go to battle at sea. He has already gained Athens, which was his objective. She suggested to him that he hold his fleets back because if he went to naval battle the outcome would not be in his favor. Those that knew Artemisia thought her advice would agitate Xerxes and those who envied her because of the honor she was showed over the other commanders, were excited thinking Xerxes would have her killed. Xerxes did neither, he took her advice with pleasure and admired her even more. Xerxes thought his absence at the Battle of Artemisium was the reason the Persians fought so horrible. So he ordered the naval battle to take place and made arrangements for himself to be
Before Xeones became a squire he tells of the agoge, which is the thirteen year training program for the Spartan youth. He tells about Alexandros and how they became close friends through the years of training. When Xeones becomes Dienekes squire all of his duties change and he started to see more of the battles. He tells of the many battles he was at and what they were like. Xeones explains the bravery of the Spartans when they were in battle and what the individual soldiers were like. Eventually the Spartans learn that the Persian army was coming to take over all of Greece. Xeones then explains what the Spartans did to prepare for the invasion. The Spartan army sent a group of three hundred highly trained soldiers to Thermopylae to defend the pass until the rest of Greece could prepare their armies.
One of the most significant battles in antiquity was fought on the narrow, tree strewn plain of Marathon, in September, 490 BC. There, the Athenian army defeated a Persian force more than twice its size, because of superior leadership, training and equipment. The battle of Marathon has provided inspiration to the underdogs throughout history. In 490 BC, the Athenians proved that superior strategy, and technology can claim victory over massive numbers.
The Battle of Salamis is said to be one of the most important battles in all of history. It was a naval battle fought between the massive Persian army and smaller Greek army in the Bay of Salamis in 480 BCE. This battle was one of the many battles that were a part of the Greco-Persian war. This paper will explore the events leading up to the battle, the battle itself, including advantages and disadvantages both sides had on one and other, and will finally discuss the affects the result of this battle had on each side. Surprisingly, the much smaller Greek army defeated the Persians at the Battle of Salamis.
... 371 B.C. Sparta faced a critically wounding loss against Thebes. Eventually, all of Sparta’s empire would be destroyed when Philip II of Macedon conquered all of Greece, due to its instability, which “made them vulnerable to a takeover by Macedonia several decades later” (C.S “The Peloponnesian War”.)
The Peloponnesian War is the conflict between the pelopoponesians league led by Sparta and the Delian league, led by Athens. Much of our knowledge on the causes and events of the Peloponnesian War, depends on the Athenian Thucydides 460-400 BC, writer of the History of the Peloponessian War. He servd as an Athenian commander in Northern Greece during the early years of the war until the assembly exiled him as he lost an outpost to the enemy. During this exile, he was able to interview witnesses on both sides of the conflicted. Unlike Heredotus he concentrated on contemporary history and presented his account of the war in an annalistic framework that only occasionally diverts from chronological order. In his account, he discuses the precursors to the war, including the 30 years truce and revolutions, such as the stasis in Corcyra. When looking at wars, the primary focus is normally the fighting itself, such as what we see for World War II. However, it is important to look at the anatomy of war, meaning what effect the war has on the people who are experiencing it first hand, and the consquences that the conflict has on the rest of the world. Therefore in this essay I shall discuss, drawing directly from Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesian War, how the civilians reacted to the war, their involvement and socio economic factors. Furthermore, the first section of my essay shall focus on the direct effect of war on the people, regarding the plague, and violence and hopelessness that was experienced. Then I shall go on to discuss more general effects of the war and how it affected the Greek world, discussing the social and economic losses that occurred such as the cost of the war in attica, the coup d’etat that occurred in gove...